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Book JHU _ 

















Ilegta 3Itmgnt&; 

OK, 

, AN ACCOUNT f 5" 

OF THE v 

V 

• « 

KING’S HONOURABLE BAND 


OF 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS, 

fihy ■ 

. OR 

GEJVTJLEJWEJV JLT *4RJlS. 





jP 

Jr 



BY W. M. THISELTON, 

\ \ 

Gentleman Pemiojter in Ordinary to His Majesty. 


\ 




i 



Lonton: 

N 

PRINTED FOR SHERWOOD, NEELY, AND JONES, PATERNOSTER 
ROW j AND C. CHAPPUE, PALL MALL. 


1819. 








preface. 



This work is intended to develope the 
jiature and duties of the King's Honour¬ 
able Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, who 
are the immediate Body Guards of the 
Sovereign; and the subject is treated at 
some length, because no writer, except 
Pegge,* has hitherto gone into its origin 
and institution, and because it contains 
remanents of antiquity not unworthy of 
being redeemed from oblivion. 

• / 

-— - -- —— —■ — - '■■#» —■* 

* The author of the Curialia, published 1784, and which 
has formed the ground work of the present volume. 



I 


PREFACE. 

/ 

In a work of this sort, where the in¬ 
formation is of so desultory a nature, it 
is almost impossible to pursue any plan 
which will comprise it within a regular 
series:—the subject is therefore treated 
with a reference to each reign; and 
although by so doing some repetitions 
.may occur, it is the only means, in 
consequence of the scarcity of original 
documents, to bring under review the 

whole of the information relative to this 

♦ 

immediate branch of the Royal House¬ 
hold. I have, however, received con¬ 
siderable assistance from the Order Book, 
kept > by the Clerk of the Cheque :—in 
addition to which, I am bound to acknow¬ 
ledge the kind assistance afforded me by 
several members of the Band. 

I beg it may be understood that I should 
be very sorry to give the slightest offence 
to any of the Officers or Gentlemen of the 





PREFACE. 


Band, and more especially to His Royal 
Highness the Prince Regent; being con¬ 
vinced that His Royal Highness has no 
servants in the kingdom whose zeal and 
veneration can possibly excel the “ Band 
“ °f Gentlemen Pensioners ” or “ Gen - 
“ tlemen at Arms”* 

s ' 

State and parade, the natural and pro¬ 
per appendages of courts, have relaxed 
with the times, and been decaying for 
more than a century, and it is only to 
be lamented that dignity has fallen with 
them. From hence it arises, that every 
trace of ancient splendour becomes of 
some value, and a fit object of record. 
An old custom is equal in estimation 
with an old coin — the vestiges of a 
court with those of a convent—and the 


* In the Letters Patent creating the Paymaster, the Corps 
h $o styled. 



PREFACE. 


maimers of mankind, when living, are 

/ 

as worthy of preservation as their monu¬ 
ments when dead. There are a few, and 
but a few, who may know, by recollection 
or by oral tradition, how the fashions and 
etiquette of the court have varied for 
nearly a century:—but those few can tell 
us little of what they were two centuries 
ago, which indeed is only to be discovered 
from very diffusive evidence, and by an 
acquaintance with what has been called 
“ Such reading as was never read.” 

‘ V 

How far I may succeed in the following 
work, is left to the candour of the public 
to decide; but no industry or research 
has been omitted in collecting and ar¬ 
ranging the matter treated of in the 
subsequent sheets. 


THE EDITOR. 


BEXDIC*4TIOJF. 


To His Royal High ness 

THE PRINCE OF WALES, 

Regent of the United Kingdonf, 

This Volume is dedicated*— 

With the profoundest respect and veneration for 
his many princely virtues ; and as a tribute 
of warm attachment to His Royal High¬ 
ness’s Person; 

By his most faithful Servant, 

W- M* THISELTON, 


/ 

























' 


V- ) 




. / 




* 






..i •• i- \ •!* . nv . ; 


/ 


^ . 1 ' I ^ j •. ■ .[ 








I I ■ > • * ! j 1 ' ( / 

■ )’) is It ; I-., ; t y> l •/ ;■ . r ■ ■ l 


- 'ii♦:••••• i ’* 






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' * -■ J '• v t- •••[ " 
























N 

' 4 

, ' 












HISTORICAL ACCOUNT, 


&c. 


The King’s Honourable Band of Gentlemen 
Pensioners, is a demi-military Corps and is 
more pregnant with history than one would 
imagine from its present appearance, which 
differs exceedingly in complexion from what 
it was at its institution. It has changed, not 
only with the fashions of the times; but, 
according to some writers, with the exigencies 
of the court; and though an insight into its 
establishment and revolutions may be of no 
importance to national history ; yet, it may 
be found to deserve some attention, being still a 
splendid branch of the Royal Escort. It was 
originally composed of Cadets of Noble Families, 


B 



2 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Henry 

and of the higher Order of Gentry, who were 
afterwards transplanted, for the most part, 
into the army v 

The time of the establishment of the Band of 
Gentlemen Pensioners (as it is now styled) has 
been generally mis-attributed, some appropriating 
it to the Reign of King Henry VII. and others 
to that of Queen Elizabeth; but the truth will 
be found in the Reign of King Henry VIIL 
in 1509, and not long after his accession, to the 

V 

Throne. His father had instituted at his 
coronation in 1485 a bod}^ of fifty Archers, under 
the title of Yeomen of his Guard ; but the young 
and spirited King Henry VIII. was too high- 
minded to be contented with an Escort of Yeomen, 
and therefore erected this new and sumptuous 
Troop of Gentlemen, to attend his person and 
service.* 


* Lloyd in his Worthies, says, f f the Band was established 
es at the instance of Sir William Compton.” This Gentleman* 
who was a lineal ancestor of the Earls of Northampton, is 
well know r n to have been high in the royal favour, and after 
having served as a Page of Honour, and Groom of the Bed¬ 
chamber, successively to the King, when Duke of York, was, 
on the King’s accession, immediately made a Gentleman of 


( 



GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


o 

o 


VIII. J 

Hall, the Chronicler, gives the following ac¬ 
count of its Establishment, in which his cotem¬ 
poraries agree: “ Also this yere, [1539] the kyng 
ordeined fiftie Gentle menne to bee speres, 
“ euery of theim to haue an Archer, a Demi- 
“ launce, and a Custrell, and euery spere to haue 
“ three greate Horses, to bee attendaunt on his 
“ persone, of the which bende, the Erie of 
“ Essex was Lieuetenaunt, and Sir John Pechie 
cc Capitain, who endured but a while, the apparell 

<e and charges were so greate, for there were 

/ 

none of theim, but they and their Horses, 
<c were appareled and trapped in Clothe of Golde, 
“ Siluer, and Golde Smithes woorke, and their 
“ seruauntes richely appareled also.* * 


the Bed-chamber, Groom of the Stole, and soon afterwards 
knighted. Besides these offices in the first instance, the 
King conferred upon him several Manors, and honoured him 
with part of the Royal Arms, in augmentation of his own.— 
Hug dale's Baronage and Observations on the Life of Thomas 
Howard, Earl of Surry. 

* Cloth of Gold, so much in use formerly, must have been 
a very expensive article, when we consider the value of money 
at the time * for the Statute of Apparel, made in the 24th 
year of this Reign, speaks of its being sometimes upwards of 
per yard. 

B ^ 



4 TIIE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Hairy 

• * 

The same author also mentions in the thirtieth 
year of the same reign, that cc In December 
“ [1539] were appointed to wayte on the Kynges 
u highnes person fyftie Gentlemen called Pen- 
“ cioners or Sperres, lyke as they were in the 
“ first yere of the Kyng.”* 

The following transcript of the original 
Statutes or Ordinances for the erection and 
government of this Corps, together with the Oath 

to be taken by each individual, signed by King 

* 

Henry VIII. may be seen in the Cottonian 
Library, with the following title : which is 
inserted as the best evidence of the original 
formation by King Henry VIII.^ 

“ Certain Ordenances and Statutes, devised 


* Several of the Chroniclers have assigned the King’s 
marriage with the Princess Anne of Cleves, as the cause of 
the revival of this Corps 3 but Lord Herbert gives a reason 
independent of the marriage,, which he treats as a mere 
pretext, and tells us it was owing to the King’s fears, on 
account of the many discontents which prevailed both at home 
and abroad. 

f This unique article (for such probably it now is) con¬ 
tains five small quarto leaves of parchment indented 3 and is 
to be found among the MS. Addenda to the Museum Copy of 
the Cottonian Library. 





VIII.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 5 

iC and signed by the King’s Majestie for a 
Retinewe of Speres or Men of Arms, to be 
iC chosen of Gentlemen that be commen and 
extracte of noble Blood. Withe a forme of 
“ their Othe. 

“ HENRY R. 

“ Forasmoche as the King oure Sovraine 
Lorde, of his greatt noblenesse, wisedom, and 
prudence, considreth that in this his reame of 
“ England be many yong Gentlemen of noble 
“ Blod, whiche have non excercise in the Feate 
“ of Armes, in handling and renying the Spere 
“ and other faits of Werre on horsbacke like as 
“ in other Reames and Cuntreys be dayley 
“ practised and used, to the greate honor and 
“ laude of theim that soo dothe, his Highnes 
hath ordeyned and appointed to have a 
a Retynue daily of certaine Speres called Men 
“ of Armes, to be chosen,of Gentlemen that be 
“ comen and extracte of noble Blod, to thentent 
“ that they shall exercise the said Feate of 
“ Armes, and be the more mete and able to 
“ serve theire Prince, as well in tyme of Werre 


/ 


6 the honourable band of [ Henry 

“ as otherwise, and to have good Wages to leve 
c * upon accordingly. 

“ And to thentent alsoo, that evry of them 
“ shall knovve howe to order and demeane 
“ themselfs, his Highnes hath made, ordeyned 
6C and established certaine Ordenances and Sta- 
“ tutes following. 

66 Furst, evry of the said Gentlemen shall 
have his Harneys complete and all other 
Habilements mete and necessary for him, with 
“ twoo Double Horses at the leeste for himself 
“ and his Page, convenient and necessarye for 
a a Man of Armes; also his Coustrell,* with a 
Javelyn or Demye-launce, well armed and 
horsed as it apperteyneth. And they shall 
“ obeye in every condicon the Captaine that 
(C shall be ordeyned and deputed by the King’s 
<c Highnes or his Deputie Lieutenante to have 
“ the rule, conduite and gov’nance of theim in 


* This word is uniformly mis-written throughout these 
ordinances 5 for it should evidently be coustill, an abbreviate 
of the French word coustiilier, which signifies <e The Servant 
pf a Man of Arms.” 



GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


VIII] 


? 


all things that thei shall be commanded to doo 
on the King's behalf. 

“ Itm, That they shall make theire abode in 
<c suche places as the King’s Grace shall appointe 
theim, or the said Captaine or the Deputy 
<c Lieutenante in the King’s name, whedder it be 
in places nigh his Person, or elsewhere, upon 
pain for every such defaulte to lose six days 
Wages. 

“ Itm, Evry of the said Speres and Coustrellys 
* c shall, at evry time, cary with theim theire 
“ Horses, Harneys, and other Habiliments of 
“ Werre, as thei have, and shall muster with, 
<c not lacking, at any time, pece or parcel of 
*• theire said Habilyments of Werre nor Horses, 
“ upon payne of losing six dayes wages for evry 
“ such daye and tyme as he shall be founden in 
“ defaulte, being afore commaundcd by the 
cc King, Captaine, or Lieutenante. 

“ Itm, In likewise, that non of the said Speres 
“ nor Coustrells shall in nowise departe out of 
“ the place where they be assigned to make 
“ theire said abode, withoute the special licence 
“ of the King our Sovraine Lorde, or of theire 


i 


s 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


[Henry 


“ said Captaine, or Deputie Lieutenante: and 
“ to suchs as licence shall be granted unto by 
“ the King’s Grace or the said Captaine or 
“ Lieutenante, and the daye appointed theim 
“ for their returne not to faille withoute lawfull 
excuse of sicknesse or otherwise duely proved, 
upon paine of the losse of double theire wages 
<c for every daye, as thei shall faille in comying 
“ after the said daye to them lymited and 
“ assigned. 

“ Itm, That evry of the forsaid Men of Armes 

♦ 

a shall furnyshe and make redy twoo good 
Archers well horsed and harnessed, and to 
“ bring theim to muster before the King’s Grace 
* s or suche persones as his Grace shall appointe 
“ within a moneth at the farthest after the daye 
“ that they shall be commanded soo to doo by 
cc the King’s Grace, or theire Captaine or Lieu- 

l * ,V- 

tenante, and not to faille soo to doo, upon 
paine of losing their Romes, and their bodies 
‘ to be ponyshed atte the King’s pleasure. 

“ Itm, If any of the said Archers after thei 
“ be admitted fortune to dye, the said Speres 
“ shall not admitte any other in theire place^ 


VIII ] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


9 


6( but shall name oon mete person for that Rome 
“ of Archer unto the King’s Highnes, and bring 
“ him to his presens to be admitted at his 
“ pleasure, or els to the said Captaine or Lieu- 
ec tenante. 

Itm, For the Wages and Ent’teyning of 
“ the said Speres and Archers, the King’s 
“ Highnes hath ordeyned and appointed that 
“ evry Spere shall have and receive for himselfe, 
K his Coustrell, his Page and his two Archers, 
“ thre shillings and foure pens strlings by the 
iC daye, to be paid by hands of the Treasourer 
“ of the King’s Chambre, whiche is appointed 
“ by the King’s Highnes to paye them the same. 
<c And furthermore the said Speres shall receive 
<c theire said Wages for theim and for theire 
“ Archers at thend of evrv Moneth. 

“ Itm, The King’s pleasure is, That the said 
u Lieutenante shall have for the Wages and 
tc Entertaining of Himself, his Custrell, Page, 
“ and six Archers, six shillings by the daye, to 
“ be payed in like manner as the said Speres 
<c shall be. 

r<r Itm, The King’s Grace woll that the said 


\ 


JO THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Henry 

“ Captaine or Lieutenante, with suche other 
“ psones as his Grace shall appointe shall evry 
“ quarter of the yere as it shal be the King’s 
“ pleasure, see the Musters of the said Men of 
Artnes andtheire Company, if any of them lakke 
Horse, Harneys, or if any of theire said Horses 
and Harneys be not sufficient as they should 
be : if thei be not, that they be commaunded 
* c by the forsaid Captaine or Lieutenante to 
provide for suche as shal be good and 
sufficient upon raisonable daye by the said 
“ Captaine or Lieutenante to be appointed. 
<c And suche as soo be founden in defaulte, 
<c that the said Captaine or Lieutenante, shall 
“ restraine his Wages in the hands of the said 
u Treasourer of the Chambre till he be suffi- 
“ ciently apparalled of suche thinges as he soo 
“ shall lakke, and thus the said Captaine or 
“ Lieutenante to doo upon payne of the King’s 
u displeasure, and losing of his Rome. 

ee Itm, To thentent that the said Speres shall 
k ' c ahveys be in the more Arredynes* with theire 


* Readiness. 



GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


YXII.] 



“ Retynue and suche Horse and Harneys and 
cc other things as shal be neccessarye in that 
behalf, the King's pleasure is, That the said 
“ Speres shal be redy al weys to muster befor the 
“ said Captaine or Lieutenante at suche tyme or 
tymes as they shal be by them commaunded 
“ soo to doo. 

ctr Itm, It is the King’s Commaundement That 
the said Speres and theire Companye shall 
observe and kepe good rule and gov’nance, 
and nothyng attempte againste the King’s 
“ subjects, contrarye to his lawes, and that 
“ thei duely and truely content and paye in redy 
“ money for vittalls and all other necessaries 
“ that thei shall take for themselfs theire said 
“ Servants and Horses upon payne to be 
16 ponished after the King’s pleasure. And if 
iC any of theim shal he founde three times 
“ culpable in any such defaults, then he or thei 
“ to be deprived of his Rome and his body to be 
“ ponished at the King’s pleasure. 

u Itm, It is the King’s pleasure and com- 
“ maundement that none of the said Speres shall 
“ presume to take his Lodging by his owne 


s 



TKE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


\Jienrxf 


“ auctorite but be ordered theirin, and take such 
<£ Lodging as by the King’s Herbergiers,* for 
u that purpose deputed, shall be appointed unto 
t( theim upon ponysshement aforesaid. 

C£ Itm, It is the King’s Pleasure and Com- 
“ maundment that non of the said Speres shall 
“ geve Wages unto any Archer, Coustrell or 

Page of any other Spere, nor to reteigne him 
tc as his srvante, excepte he be put to him by 
Si his own Master, being oon of the said Speres.” 


THE OTHE.f 

iC I shal be true and faithfull Subjecte and 
“ Servante unto oure Soverine Lord King 
“ Henry the Eighth, and to his Heirs, Kings 
u of England, and diligently and truelv give 
“ myn Attendance in the Pome of oon of his 

i ^ i 

Speres, and I shal be reteyned to no man, 
“ psone, ne psones of what degre or condicon 
iC soever he be by Othe, Lyvree, Bagge [Badge] 


* Harbingers. 

f This Oath, seems intended to have been taken publicly 
in the field, after a muster, in the presence of the King, or 
the Commanding Officer, and the whole Corps. 



13 


I 


VIII ] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 

fC Promise or otherwise, but oonly to his Grace, 
without his especial Licence.* And I shall 


* Sir William Bulmer was in the reign of Henry VIII. 
rebuked for suffering himself to be retained by the Duke of 
Buckingham, while he was in the King’s service.— Hall's Chron . 

A Retainer" according to Strype “ was a Servant not 
“ menial, (that is, continually dwelling in the house of his 
Lord or Master) but only wearing his Livery, and attending 
sometimes on special occasions upon his person. The 
*' c Livery was wont to consist of hats or hoods, badges, or 
other suits of one garment by the year. None could have 
“ Retainers but by licence from the Crown. Queen Mary 
“ was very liberal in granting licences; but Queen Elizabeth 
“ was as sparing. Their tendency was often bad in keeping up 
<( animosities between great men, and fomenting rebellion ; so 
<( that Statutes have been occasionally made to regulate them." 
—By the.Statutes of 8 Edward IV. cap. 2. “ None shall give 
“ Liveries but to their menial servants.” 

X 

Lord Verulam relates a storv of the Earl of Oxford, who 
once entertained King Henry VII. “ At the King’s going away, 
t( the Earl’s servants stood in their Livery Coats, with cog- 
nizances, ranged on both sides, and made the King a lane." 
The King called the Earl to him, and said, “ These handsome 
gentlemen and yeomen, which I see on both sides of me, 
“ are sure your menial servants !” The Earl smiled and said, 
“ they are most of them my Retainers, they are come to do me 
(< service at such a time as this, and chiefly to see your Grace.’* 
The King started a little, and said ■ “ by my faith, my Lord, 
,c I thank you for my good cheer, but I may not endure to 
“ have my laws broken in my sight. My Attorney must speak 
“ with you.” And, continues Lord Verulam, it is part of 

t 


/ 



14 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Henry 

/ 

“ not hereafter knowe or here of any thing that 
shal be hurtefull or prejudiciall to his most 
“ royal pson, specially in treason, but I shal 
iC withstand it to th’ uttermost of my power, 
and the same with all diligence, to me 
<c possible, disclose to the King’s Highnes or to 
“ the Captaine of the said Speres or his Deputie 
<c Lieutenante or suche others of his Counsaile as 
“ I shall know woll discover the same unto his 
<c Grace. I shall not leye te pledge ne putte 
<c awaye suche Horse & Harneys as I nowe have 
u mustered with before the King to any psone 
“ or psones, ne put oute of service any Archer, 
“ Custrell, or Page, that I have nowe with me, 
<f onles I have before showed cause resonable 

—i-- — . — - —. — ——.— —- - - . — - 

■ , \ ’’: 

tbe report, that the Earl compounded for no less than 15,000 
marks— Hist, of Hen. NIL 

i 

It may seem necessary to explain the term Livery, as it 
appears a very equivocal word in the authorities, which are 
frequently cited. The root of the term is the French Liver^e, 
and applies to all things delivered from the offices of the Royal 
Household respectively, viz. Robes and Garments, as well as 
Diet, Wood, Candles, &c.— Hide the Northumberland House¬ 
hold Book. The word is now worn out in its original sense, 
and is confined merely to a party-coloured suit of clothes given 
to men servants. 



I 


VIII.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 15 

u soo to doo to the King or the said Captaine or 
ec his Deputie Lieutenante in his absence: nor 
ee I shall knowe of any of my Company in like- 
“ wise to leye to pledge or put away any Horse, 
“ Harneys, or Archers, but that I shall showe 
“ the same to the King’s Grace, his said Captaine 
“ or Deputie Lieutenante, in as brief tyme as I 
conveniently maye. I shall also truely and 
“ faithfully to my power observe and kepe from 
“ this daye forwards all and evry article com- 
(C prized in a Boke assigned with the King’s Hand, 
“ and all manner of Statutes and Ordinances in the 
“ same and in evry of theim conteined On this, 
“ I shall be obeysaunte unto my Captaine or 
“ Deputie Lieutenante, and the commaund- 
“ ments I shall observe and kepe at all tymes, 
u soo the same be or concerne the service of the 
4C King’s Grace. And all suclie causes secrete 
“ as shall be shewed unto me by the King’s 
“ Grace, the said Captaine or Deputie Lieute- 
ec nante, I shall keep counsaill without discovering 
(C of the same to any psone or psones till I be 
“ commaunded. I shall deligently geve my 
“ attendaunce with my Retynue upon the 


16 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Henry 

cc King’s Grace in suche wise as I shall be 
cc commaunded and appointed by the said 
<e Captaine or his said Deputie Lieutenante and 
“ not absente or departe from the Courte with- 
“ out Licence of the King or of the said Captaine 
ce or his Deputie Lieutenante, in his absence, by 
“ the space of foure dayes. And also all suche 
“ Horse, Harneys, and other Habiliments of 
cc Werre as I nowc have mustered with before 
<e the King’s Grace, the said Captaine or Deputie 
“ Lieutenante, be my own proper goods and non 
“ other man’s: nor also I shall not muster at 
“ any tyme before the King’s Grace the said 
“ Captaine or Deputie Lieutenante, with any 
66 Archer, Coustrell or Page, but oonly with 
“ suche as I have reteyned with me to serve the 
“ King’s Highnes for the same entent. And 
<c thus I shall well and truely observe and kepe, 
“ and serve the King in the said Rome of oon of 
u his Speres. So helpe me God and theis holy 
“ Evangelies.” 

% 

The precise date of the above ordinances is not 
specified, though established by other authorities. 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


17 


VIII.] 

neither is the intended number of the Spears 
ascertained; but it is probable that the time of 
completion was not then arrived, and that the 
corps'was merely in a state of formation. As to 
the number, it seems to have waited for the 
King’s pleasure to be further made known, as 
the foregoing statutes only say certain Spears, 
neither are the Captain and Lieutenant mentioned 
by name, though by the Order Book of the 
Band, it appears that the Earl of Essex was the 
first Captain, and Sir John Peachy Lieutenant.* 
In the preamble, the ground-work, the model, 


* This Gentleman, the first Lieutenant of the Band, closed 
his life in an unfortunate manner, for he died of the plague, 
or by a slow poison, supposed to be given to him at the 
banquet made at Ardres, when Kings Henry VIII. and 
Francis I. had the Grand Interview in 1520. He was a Knight 
Banneret having been made such in 1513 .—HalTs Chron. 

Hall and Holinshed have both inverted them j but there can 
be no doubt that the Earl was the superior Officer. This Earl 
of Essex was Henry Bourchier, who was nearly related to the 
King, his mother being Anne Woodville, sister to Elizabeth 
Woodville, (the Queen of King Edward the Fourth) the King’s 
Grandmother; so that he was maternally first cousin to the 
Queen of King Henry VII. and but one degree more remote 
from King Henry VIII. The Earl’s grandfather had married 
Isabel, sister to Richard Duke of York, and the alliance with 
royalty commenced before his father’s marriage, 


c 



18 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ Henry 

and the intention of the Institution is described,. 
It was well understood at that time what a Man 
of Arms was, and it explains to us what was then 
likewise expressed by a Spear, thereby com¬ 
prehending all other appendages, the weapon 
implying the person, as in modern military 
language a Drum frequently expresses the Drum- 

v r *-*• * 

mer, a Trumpet the Trumpeter, &c. These 
Gentlemen were to appear in Armour, for by the 
word Harness, at that time was meant a complete 
Suit of Armour. The attendants of each Spear 
are described to be a Page, a Coustrill, and Two 
Archers. By double-horses, were meant great 
or managed Horses, which probably were Chevaux 
entiers and not Geldings.* To these Attendants 


* The Great or Double Horses then in use, we may suppose, 
were such as have been since seen in our heavy cavalry, on 
which, in cases of necessity, one horseman could take up 
behind him another who was dismounted, or a person on foot 
who was wounded, or, in certain situations, a captive. Thus,, 
in the last instance, we find that when Sir Thomas Wyatt 
surrendered himself, in the reign of Queen Mary, he was 
brought by Sir Maurice Perkeley from Temple Bar to 
Whitehall, on the same horse behind him ; as was Sir Thomas 
Cobham, behind another gentleman.— Strypes Memorials 
and Godwins Annals of Queen Mary, 



VIII.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS, 19 

were to be added Two good Archers, on Horse¬ 
back, and in Armour. For the support of this 
their retinue, each Spear was to have a daily pay 
of three shillings and four pence. 

The regulation and discipline of this Troop 
appears every where in the Statutes to have been 
an object of great attention, as the mulcts for 
absence and irregularity are very large, as will 
be seen by the following Extract from the Ar¬ 
ticles belonging to the Gentlemen Pensioners in 
King Henry the Eighth’s time. 

€C Item, If the said Gentlemen Pensioners, 
“ or any of them, do fail their days of appearance 
“ in the place and houses before mentioned, 
[required] then the Cheque to be for the first 
default the loss of three days wages, for the se- 
u cond default the loss of six days wages, and for 
“ the third default the loss of fifteen days wages.” 
“ Item, That every of the said Gentlemen 

Pensioners, be well and sufficiently provided 

* • 

“ and furnished of his Two Great Horses, for 
“ himself and his Servant, according to his Oath, 
“ with Arms and other Habiliments to the same 
u appertaining, to be ready with the premises 

c2 


20 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF SJlenrij 

“ at two days notice, warning given unto them by 
“ their Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer, 
<c upon pain of forfeiture of ten days wages for 
the first default, and for the second default 
“ to forfeit a month’s wages, and for the third 
“ to be clearly expulsed, and put out of the room 
iC of a Gentleman Pensioner, and to lose two 
“ whole quarters wages.” 

There i£, indeed, reason to believe that their 
pay was lessened, and that their retinue was 
diminished before the year 1539 : for by referring 
to the Household Statutes, made at Eltham in 
1526, the Corps is described as complete, and 
fully officered, under the present title of u The 
u Band of Gentlemen Pensioners.” In order to 
raise the stipends of the additional officers, the 

pay of each Pensioner seems to have suffered a 

* 

considerable defalcation, (being reduced to £50) 

\ 

and that on account of such abatement, some 
part of their retinue was dispensed with. About 
this period (or soon after) the Battle-Axe was 
probably introduced, as they began now to 
operate on foot in the Court, as well as on 
horseback in the Field; in which former case 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


21 


VIII] 

they might carry the Pole or Battle-Axe, though 
they used their Spears on horseback. If the 
Corps was actually new modelled, the King, who 
had formed it, (as the original Statutes say) on 
a plan adduced from Foreign Countries, might 
adopt the Battle-Axe from the French, as it 
approximates very much to the Bees de Corbin, 
borne by some of the most ancient Household 

_ r 

Troops in France.* 


* There is little doubt that the Bees de Corbin in the 
French establishment, and the Band of Pensioners at their 
establishment and governance, mutually borrowed from each 
other. In the account given us by Pere Daniel, a very exact 
parallel is found between our Gentlemen Pensioners in early 
times, and the Gentils-hommes du Bee de Corbin in France, 
who were formerly regarded, during several reigns, as the 
principal and most honourable Guard of the King, being 
styled “ La Grande Garde du Corps.” By examining the 
features of them respectively, the resemblance will be con¬ 
firmed. The French Corps was originally composed of one 
Hundred Gentlemen of rank and consequence, under the 
command of a Captain, a Lieutenant, and an Ensign, and 
were expressly instituted by Louis XI. in 1474, as a Garde du 
Corps. Each of these Gentlemen was armed with a Lance, 
and attended by a man of Arms and Two Archers, and as 
they were for the most part formed from the Gentlemen of the 
King’s Household or Pensioners, “ Gentils-hommes de son 
Hotel ou Pensionalres,” the Troupe was called The Company 
of the Hundred Gentlemen of the King’s Household, ap~ 



J 


22 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ Henry 

King Henry had his grand interview with 
Francis I. of France, between Guines and Ardres 
in 1520, and out of compliment might affect a 
similar appearance in his Body-guard at the 
interview with what he knew was used by King 
Francis.* 

Cardinal Wolsey, who was never tardy in 
apeing royalty where he could, had a similar, 

though humbler escort of Pole Axes, when he 

/ 

pointed for the Guard of his Person—“ La Compagnie de 
<c Cent Gentils-hommes de la Maison du Roy ordonnds pour la 
“ Garde de son Corps." And a second Company of One 
Hundred was added to them by Charles VIII. in 1497, which 
was styled Extraordinary, though they both went collectively 
under the original denomination of The Hundred Gentlemen. 
These last were entirely abolished by Louis XIV. in 1088. 
This, was the foreign establishment, to which King Henry 
VIII. alludes in the Statutes for the formation of his Band 
of Pensioners, and the following trait will strengthen the 
surmise. Our own Band was originally furnished from the 
prime of our Gentry, or from the younger branches of our 
antient Nobility ;—and P. Daniel tells us, on authority, that 
there was not a family of antiquity in France which had not, 
at different times, one of it enrolled in the Band of the 
Hundred Gentlemen. 

* Several of these Gentlemen, with their Battle-Axes, are 
discernable in the picture of the Champ de Drap dor, which 
It ds one to imagine that the Battle-Axe was used about that 
period. 



VTXI.j GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 23 

was Lord High Chancellor :—for besides his Two 
Cross-Bearers* as Archbishop* and his Two 
Pillar-Bearers* as Cardinal* mounted on great 

Horses* who preceded him, he had likewise* 

* • ,, . • 

when he went to Westminster-Hall* on his mule, 

as Lord Chancellor, four Gentlemen on foot 
about his person* bearing each a Pole-Axe in his 
hand.* 

It is very clear* if this Body of Spears ever was 
disbanded* that the period of the revival must 
have been egregiously mistaken; for in the year 
1526* the Corps stands thus in the Statutes of 
Eltham : 

A Captain* with the Salary of. ... 200 Marks 

A Lieutenant* . 100 Pounds 

A Standard Bearer,^ .. 100 Marks 


* Sir Thomas More, in a Speech to the House of Commons 
was not a little severe upon die Cardinal, on account of his 
Pole-Axes. He had also Yeomen of his Guard. 

f The corresponding Officer of the Yeomen of the Guard 
is styled Ensign, which arises from the French distinction, 
where the term Cornet or Standard-Bearer has always been 
peculiar to the Horse, and that of Ensign to the Foot, as we 
now use them. 


i 





24 the honourable band of [ Henry 

Fifty Gentlemen Pensioners, each 46/ : 13^: id* 
A Clerk of the Cheque ........ 40 Pounds 

A Harbinger...18 Pounds. 

This taken in the gross is an enlargement 
rather than a reduction ; for the Captain, in the 
original Establishment, does not appear to have 
had any salary. The Standard-Bearer, the 
Clerk of the Cheque, and the Harbinger, were 
additional officers ; and as to what regards the 
Pensioners themselves, this account is so free 

N 

from error that they are mentioned by name.f 
By the before mentioned Statutes it appears 
that the Band had a Standard-Bearer, and it is a 
natural enquiry what was the device upon the 
Standard! Dr. Chamberlayne’s Angliae Notitia 
of the year 1672, tells us it was St. George’s 
Cross, and that it was likewise four Bends : but 
in this last bearing he does not give the colour of 
the Field, or of the Charge. The former of 
these is obvious ; but the latter is not so solvable. 


* Apparently a singluar sum—but it will analyze into 
seventy Marks, an usual Household computation, when wage* 
did not run per diem. 

f Vide pages 33-4 at the close of this Reign. 





VIII. j GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 25 

unless it can be presumed (it the authority is 
allowed) that the Band had Two Standards ; the 
one to be used when they mustered before the 
King, and the other on their private or periodical 
musters, and which might very well carry the 
Arms, Crest, or Device of one of their Captains. 

It cannot be supposed that there should have 
been a Standard-Bearer so early attached to the 
Band without a Standard, though the office is so 
circumstanced at present ; nay, there is good 
reason to think there actually were two Standards 
in the reign of K. Edward VI. for in a MS. 
account of the payment of sundry officers of 
the Household, in the sixth year of that King, a 
payment was made “ to John Pyers, Clerk of the 
“ Cheque to the Guard, for the hire of a house 
“ to lay the Great Standards, with the rich Coats 
u and Halberds £1 : 14s : 8d.” # 

Leaving the Gentlemen Pensioners in the year 


* This seems, primjL facie, to relate both to the Pensioners 
and the Yeomen ; but it will appear that the Yeomen had no 
Officer of the denomination of Ensign, till after the restoration. 
The rich Coats and the Halberds, may be placed to their 
account$ but the Standards must (for the reason given) be 




26 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 



152G, in the state described, they are found 
avowedly by all the chroniclers not inconspicuous 
on the ceremonial of the reception of the Princess 
Anne of Cleves in 1539: for though it is well 
known, that the match was not only political, 
but, after a previous interview at Rochester, 
disgusting to the King; yet he determined to 
pay the Princess all possible respect, and her 


confined to the Pensioners, and comprehend the two belonging 
to the Band. 

As to the King’s Great Standard, there was at this time 
and long afterwards, an official Standard-Bearer—such were 
in the reign of King Henry VIII. the two Sir Anthony Brownes, 
(father and son 3) and the King’s Great Standard would hardly 
be consigned to the care of the Clerk of the Cheque of the. 
Yeomen of the Guard. From whence Dr. Ch'arnberlayne 
took his information it is impossible to conceive 3 but on a 
nearer examination it might originate from a passable error, 
arising from ignorance or inattention, and in such ease the 
^Subordinate Standard has the appearance of carrying the 
Armorial Bearing of one of the Captains of the Band, who 
might have been the second Sir Anthony Browne, and who 
will appear to have succeeded the Earl of Essex in the com¬ 
mand. The Arms of Sir Anthony were (as now borne by his 
descendants Viscount Montacute) “ Sable, three Lions passant 
<e in Bend, between two double Cotises, Argent.” On which 
it is necessary to remark, that, the Lions might be overlooked 
by an unskilful observer, the two double Cotises in the Blazon 
have transiently the appearance of four Bends. 



VIII.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. ' 27 

Highness was received with great state by the 
King and his suite on Blackheath, at the foot of 
Shooter’s Hill. She was accordingly accommo¬ 
dated in a rich pavilion, till the King and his 
train arrived, who was accompanied by the 
Corporation of London, Knights, and Esquires. 
The King was attended by the Fifty Gentlemen 
Pensioners, and Holinshed tells us, that, “ behind 
(e them stood the seruing men” [the Coustills] 
“ in good order, well horssed and apparelled; 
u that who so euer had well viewed them, 
** might haue said, that they for tall and comelie 
u personages, and cleane of lim and bodie, were 
“ able to giue the greatest Prince in Christendome 
u a mortall breakefast, if he had beene the 
“ King’s enemie.” 

ce In this order rode the King till he came 
>' c to the last end of the ranke of the Pensioners, 
and there euerie person that came with him 
placed himselfe on the one side or the other, 
iC the King standing in the middest,” when the 
interview took place. After which the “ Pensi- 
“ oners, with the Guard, departed to furnish the 
u Hall at Greenwich.” Here accordingly we find 


/ 


28 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Henry 

them again when the King and his intended 
Queen arrived there; for, below the hearth in 
the Hall were placed the [Yeomen of the] Guard, 
and above the hearth The Fifty Pensioners 
with their Battle-Axes.”* From this account 
we may observe, that the Corps was at that time 
a troop, similar to what we now, in the military 
line, call Dragoons ; serving on horseback, when 
the King was in the Field, and other occasions, 
within the Court, on foot. They filled both 
these characters on the reception of the Lady 
Anne of Cleves—first, on horseback at Black- 
heath, and immediately afterwards on foot in the 
Hall at the Palace of Greenwich. 

Soon after this period, some latitude was given 
to the Band, in point of attendance, and it was 
allowed that half the Band should wait quarterly, 
except on the principal Feasts. Whether this 
arose from the severity of the then duty, or to 
relieve the Gentlemen in point of cxpence, does 


* The King’s Hall, by this description, seems to have had 
the fire in the centre, as in the halls of the colleges, inns of 
court, and other societies. 



VIII.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 29 

iiot appear. The following however are the 
orders which issued after the Earl of Essex had 
resigned the command, and when Sir Anthony 
Browne was Captain of the Band.* 

“ Where [as] it hath pleased the King’s Ma- 
“ jesty, at the special sute of Sir Anthony 
“ Browne, Knighte and Captaine of his Ma- 
sc jesty’s Gentlemen Penconers, to graunte and 
enlarge his Highnes’ said Penconers to the 
“ Iibtie of Quarter-waiters, by the ehecke, as is in 
“ an article before menconed, so that continually 
<e thone half of them shall be attendaunt without 
a any excuse of sicknes or otherwise; but that 
“ he or they that shall fortune to be sicke, or 
<c have any other lett within his saide Quarter, 
“ shall, for the tyme of his absence, fynde one 
“ of his Companye that shal be oute of his 
“ Quarter to waite upon the King’s Majesty, 


* In what year Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex, resigned, 
is not precisely determinable ; but his death is mentioned by 
several historians, (particularly by Bishop Godwin) as having 
taken place by a fall from an unruly horse in 1540. The 
Orders above transcribed are a sufficient proof that the Earl 
did not die in the command, but that Sir Anthony succeeded 
him in his life-time. 




THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


l^Henrif 


tc and to furnishe his place, or ells to be in 
rc daunger of the £heck; and the other halfe 
for the meane tyme of theire halfe yere so by 
the quarter to be taken att their libertye. 

“ Item, The whole Band of the said Gentle- 
<e men Penconers, at the fower principal 1 Feasts* 
c<: of the yere, that is to saye, Christmas, Ester, 
Whitsontid, Alhollontyd, shall give theire 
attendaunce under check as they now doe. 
u Item, In consideracon whereof, whereas ' 
nowe they are bounded to the findinge of 
Twoe Greate Horses only, they shall each 
one, from henceforthe, keepe Three Horses 
u furnished accordingly. 

“ Item, Notwithstanding this graunte of libtie 
“ thej^ be neverthelesse at all tymes in suche a 
“ readynes, that when warninge shall be given 
“ unto them from the Officers above them, they 
u and every of them shall, accordinge to the 
u same, repaire to the Courte, and give suche 
“ attendaunce for the tyme as shall be appointed 
“ unto them usinge for that seasone, be, it in 
theire Quarter or otherwise, no lesse deligence 
u then they doe at the present, as apptayncthe.’* 


VIII.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 31 

■ .1 w . . : , 

* 

We have but very transient views of the Band 
in this reign after the period last mentioned, 
except that the Gentlemen seem to have attended 
the King on all occasions, in the military as 
well as the civil line. Thus, according to Lord 
Herbert, they escorted his Majesty at his Grand 
Entree in Boulogne, after it was taken in 1544, 
with the Earl of Essex at their head.* Another 
writer (Strype) likewise tells us that they were 
with the King at the siege of that city, to the 
number of Two Hundred, including a retinue 
of Three to each Pensioner, all mounted “ on 
u Barded Horses,^ in one Suit of Red and 


* William Parr, Earl of Essex, afterwards Marquis of 
Northampton, who, it is presumed, succeeded Sir Anthony 
Browne in the command, when he was made Master of the 
Horse in 1540. This new Earl of Essex was in very high 
estimation with the King, ( who had married his sister, 
strengthened by the Earl’s own marriage with his Majesty’s 
second cousin, the sole daughter and heiress of Henry 
Bourchier, late Earl of Essex. 

f By Barded horses, is understood horses fully armed, on 
their Faces, Manes, and Chests, and otherwise caparisoned, 
from the French verb Barder, which according to the 
glossarists, signifies to accoutre a War-Horse. Pieces of 
this sort of Armour are still to be seen in the Tower of London. 
The words Barded or Barbed are often used as synonymous 


v 



32 the honourable BA no of [ Henry 

“ Yellow Damask* the Bards of their Horses* 
cc and Plumes of Feathers* being of the same 
66 colours .”* 

We have now come to the demise of the 
Institutor of the Band. The following is a List 
of the Gentlemen (as it stood at the time when 
the Eltham Statutes were made* in the year 
1526*) the major part of whom were probably 
the original appointees. In this roll will be 
found the names of many respectable persons*, 
who either were Cadets of Families then of con¬ 
siderable account, or were themselves the Heads 
of Families afterwards ennobled. 


terms, though they, perhaps, have their dictinctions. The 
horses of the principal nobility attending the King on his 
departure from Calais, are described to have been t£ Barbed 
e< with Cloth of Gold. 

* Red and Yellow are the true Royal Colours j but Red 
and Blue, though they have been long adopted, are subject 
to the charge of false Heraldry. Many other combinations of 
colours in Regimentals are liable to the same imputation—but 
distinction has rendered them necessary. 


A LIST 



VIII] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


A LIST 

• * 

OF 

The Band of Gentlemen Pensioners , 

AS FOUND IN THE 

Statutes matse at (JEltfcam, 

IN THE 

Seventeenth Year of KING HENRY VIII. A.D. 1526 . 

SIR HUMPHREY RATCLIFF, 

THOMAS ASTLEYj 
THOMAS AVERY, 

THOMAS BUTLER, 

i ' 

THOMAS PALMER, 

HENRY JERNINGHAM, 

HENRY MARKHAM, 

EDWARD HASTINGS, 

EDMUND BRYDGES, 

EDWARD EARLE, 

EDMUND HORNE, 

EDMUND HARVEY, 

WILLIAM FULLWOOD, 

EDWARD GRIMSTON, 

EDWARD VAUGHAN, 

"V 

HUMPHREY CONISBY, 

JOHN WINGFIELD, 

JOHN GRESHAM, 

JOHN PORTMARY, 

i. • 

JOHN BANNISTER, 

* 

JOHN PASTON, 

JAQUES GRANADO, 

D 


I 


34 the honourable band of 

JOHN SANDES,' 

ROBERT LONG., 

RICHARD TYRRELL, 
WILLIAM BLUNT, 

WILLIAM PALMER, 

WILLIAM KEYLWEY, 
WILLIAM SKIPWITH, 
WILLIAM ELLERKER, 
WILLIAM BONHAM, 

WALTER BONHAM, 

WILLIAM FRANCIS, 

WILLIAM BETTS, 

FRANCIS KNOWLYS, 

GAWEN CAREY, 

GEORGE POLLARD, 

GILES POOLE, 

ANTHONY DIGBY, 

JOHN CONWAY, 
CHRISTOPHER SACKYILLE, 
CHRISTOPHER LITCOTT, 
CHARLES HERBERT, 
NICHOLAS WADHAM, 

PETER CAREW, 

SIMON DIGBY, 

STEPHEN ADAMS, 

FRANCIS HACKE, 

ROBERT STAFFORD, 
NICHOLAS ARNOLD, 

£46; 13s: 4d. each. 


I 


VIII ] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 35 

Clerk of the Cheque, William Birch , 40 Pounds 

Harbinger, John More . .. 18 Pounds 

The Captain. 200 Marks 

The Lieutenant.100 Pounds 

The Standard Bearer .100 Marks 


In the Reign of Edward the Sixth, we find 
frequent and familiar mention of the Band, even 
by the King himself, in his Journal. The first 
appearance of the Pensioners was, as it is natural 
to suppose, in procession from the Tower to 
Westminster, on the day preceding the Corona¬ 
tion, when “ The Pensioners and Men of Armes, 
“ with their Pole-Axes, went on either side the 
“ way on foote.” By this arrangement they 
were placed at proper distances, so that, the King 
might be in the centre of his Band of Pensioners. 
On the day of the Coronation the King landed in 
the morning at the Privy Stairs, where again we 
find the “ Pensioners apparelled all in red 
“ Damaske, with their Pole-Axes in their 
“ hands and in the Procession to the Abbey 

d 2 








36 the honourable band of [ Edward 

¥ 

they followed the Peers in the rear, immediately 
before the Yeomen of the Guard. 

In this and the following Reign, though both 

<# 

of them were so short, we shall find the Band 
actively employed at home, and not immaterially 
concerned in times of inquietude, when the 
Sovereign was alarmed by impending danger. 
The next view of it is in a Grand Muster of all 

the Bands retained in the King’s service, which 

' ’ > 

is inserted, partly from the King's Journal, 
but principally from a more enlarged account, 
once in the Cottonian Library. # 

It was the custom of those times for most of the 

Great Officers to have Bands of Men of Arms 

0 • • • 

horsed, and in Armour, who occasionally mus¬ 
tered before the King, together with the Band 
of Pensioners. The King’s Band mustered under 
the Royal Banner,^ and the rest under the 

* Printed in Strype s Memorials , Vol. II. p. 290. [The 
MS. wa3 destroyed by fire, and therefore this preservation is 
of more value.] The King’s Journal is printed in Bishop 
Burnet’s History of the Reformation, Vol. II. The Autograph 
may be seen in the Cottonian Library. 

f In a MS. account of the payments made to sundry Officers 
of the Household in the Sixth year of King Edward VI. is one 



.VI.l GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 37 

Banner of their respective Commanders. These 
the King calls in his Journal Gendarmes, when 
he speaks of them separately; and collectively, 
the Gendarmerie. The general Muster men¬ 
tioned took place in the year 1551, of which the 
following account is given by Strype.* * 

“ The King was now minded to see his stand- 
“ ing Forces, Horse and Foot, muster before 
“ him; and the rather that he might be in a 

f ~ } t -jr C ■* r ^ r 

“ readiness in case any rising might happen, as 
“ was apprehended by the discontented Duke of 
“ Somerset and his Party. So there were letters 
“ written and directed to certain of the Chief 
cc Officers of the Army to have the Gendarmory 
<c and Bands of Horsemen, which were appointed 
“ there in a readiness to be seen by his Majesty. 


to a Standard-Bearer with a Salary of ^100 per annum, and a 
Banner-Bearer, with ^40 per annum. The like Officers are 
found in the establishment of King James I. 

* Memorials , Vol. II. p. 284. It is mentioned in Stowe’s 
Chronicle, as is another muster iu the year following 
wherein, by the way, he gives the number of Pensioners at 
One Hundred and Fifty, meaning, no doubt, to include their 
retinue, for he describes each Pensioner as having two Great 
Horses and a Gelding; 


\ 



38 TIIE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ Edward 

iC And a letter was dispatched to the Marquis ot 
<c Northampton, Captain of the Band of Pens!- 
“ oners, to have the Band appointed him in a 
(C readiness with all the Pensioners and Men of 
“ Arms attending on the Court. 

“ In Hyde Park was then a great Muster in 
“ the King’s presence after this manner. 

“ First, came the King’s Trumpeters—then, 
u The Lord Bray, in gilt Harness,* Captain of 
“ the Pensioners and a Great Banner of the 
King’s Arms.*—Then all the Pensioners in 
<c complete Harness, and great array, in White 
“ and Black, five and five in a Rank ; and after 
“ them came their Servants, in number an 
“ Hundred, with Great Horses and Harness, in 
“ White and Black, with Spears. 

“ The second Company was led by William 
“ Pawlet, Marquis of Winchester, the Lord 


* He should rather be called Commander of the Pensioners, 
as being only Lieutenant of the Band :—for it has appeared that 
the Marquis of Northampton was the Captain, though on this 
occasion, he mustered as Lord High Chamberlain with an 
Hundred Men of Arms in Yellow and Black (his armorial 
Colours) under his own standard. The command of the 
Pensioners therefore devolved upon the Lieutenant Lord Bray, 



GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


39 


VI.] 

“ Treasurer, being an Hundred Men of Arms, 
“ with broidered Coats, Red and White, with 
cc Spears—his Standard a Falcon of Gold. 

“ The third Company belonged to John 
* c Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland, Lord 
f<r High Admiral, Steward of the Household, &c. 
“ being an Hundred Men of Arms, in Velvet 
“ Embroidery, with Trumpeters—his Standard 
“ a Lion crowned and ragged [raguled] Staff. 

“ The fourth Captain was, William Parr, 
“ The Lord Marquis of Northampton*, Lord 


* The fortunes of this Nobleman were singularly unequal. 
From a private gentleman he had arisen to uncommon honours 
by virtue of his sister’s marriage with King Henry the VIII. 
His first Office w r as no greater than that of an Esquire of the 
Body to King Henry 3 he w r as afterwards created Baron Parr, 
and Earl of Essex, (as we have seen him at the siege of 
Boulogne) and elected a Knight of the Garter. In the first 
year of King Edward the Sixth, we find him Marquis of 
Northampton, Captain of the Band of Pensioners 3 and in the 
King’s fourth year Lord Great Chamberlain (for life) on 
the surrender of the Earl of Warwick .—Dugdales Ba¬ 
ronage. These accumulated Honours and Offices did not last 
long j for on the King’s demise, his Lordship unfortunately 
espousing the claim of Lady Jane Grey, jointly with the Duke 
of Northumberland, in opposition to Queen Mary, was at¬ 
tainted 3 deprived of all his Offices, and his Estate 3 degraded 
from the Order of the Garter 3 and reduced to the humble rank 


\ 



40 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Edward 

/ 

6e High Chamberlain* &c. with an Hundred 
“ Men of Arms* in Yellow and Black ; Spears* 
“ Pensils, and Trumpeters—his Standard the 
u Maiden’s Head. 

“ The fifth was John Russell* the Earl of 
** Bedford, Keeper of the Privy Seal, with an 
“ Hundred Men of Arms in Red and White— 
“ his Standard a Goat, (white:) a Trumpeter* 
“ Pensils, and Spears. 

€t The sixth was Henry Manners, The Earl of 
s ‘ Rutland, Warden of the East and Middle 
u Marches towards Scotland, with an Hundred 
“ Men of Arms, in Yellow and Blue—his 
5ff Standard, a Peacock and Pensils. 

(e The seventh was Francis Hastings, Earl of 
u Huntingdon, a Privy Counsellor and Knight 
“ of the Garter, with Fifty Men of Arms, in 
u Blue ; Spears, Standard, and Pensils—his 
ic Standard a Manche. 


of William Parr, Esq. Notwithstanding all these deprivations 
he was restored in blood by Queen Mary, and by Queen 
Elizabeth re-created into his former Honours j re-elected a 
Knight of the Garter, and installed a second time. A. D 
1559 —/insiiss Register of the Garter. 


i 



VI.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 41 

“ The eighth was William Herbert, Earl of 
“ Pembroke* Master of the Horse, with an 
u Hundred Men of Arms—his Standard the 
“ Green Dragon. 

“ The ninth was George Brooke, Lord 
“ Cobham, with Fifty Men of Arms, in Black 
(e and White—his Standard the Saracen’s Head. 

“ The tenth was Thomas D’Arcy, Lord 

D’Arcy of Chiche, the Lord Chamberlain, 
“ with Fifty Men of Arms, Coats of White and 
“ Red, and Spears : their Coats in Broidery, 
“ Pensils—his Standard the Maiden’s Body. 

“ The eleventh was Sir Thomas Cheyney, 
“ Knight of the Garter, Treasurer of the House- 
<f hold, with an Hundred Men of Arms, all 
“ Black, Spears, and Pensils, besides Costrels— 
i( his Standard the Rose in the Sun.”* 

Edward VI. seems to have, received much 


* There is some variation in the numbers as summarily 
mentioned in the King’s Journal, and the Earl of Bedford is 
omitted. Though the Band of Pensioners have frequently 
been termed demi-military, yet we may observe, from the 
rank the Gentlemen here held among the standing forces, that 
they were considered as the prime of the army. 



42 the honourable band of [Edward, 

satisfaction from the appearance made by his 
Band of Pensioners and their Retinue on this 

i 

occasion ; for, to give his own words, he describes 
them to have been u well armed men; some 
“ with Feathers, Staves, and Pensils of their 
“ colours; some with Sleeves and Half Coats; 
“ some with Bards and Staves, &c.” This want 
of uniformity may strike us at present, though it 

i 

was an immaterial circumstance at the time. The 
King then adds that “ the horses [were] all fair 
“ and great, the worst would not have been given 
46 for less than Twenty Pounds : there [were] 
“ none under fourteen handful and a half the most 
“ part, and almost all the Horses with their 
“ Guider* * going before them. They passed 
“ twice about St. James’s Field, and compassed 
“ it round and so departed”.-}- 


* Great Horses were at that time called Dexters, from the 
French Destriers, being led to the held by a servant (the 
Guider) with his right hand. 

+ What was then St. James’s Field is now Pall-Mall, the 
adjacent streets, &c. It is worth remarking, that there was 

*o little connection between the City of London and the Village 
of Charing, in the reign of King Henry VIII. that an Act of 
Parliament was made in 1533, to mend the road between the 



43 


VI.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 

These Musters had their use in home-service 
occasionally, in defending marches, opposing 
insurrections, &c. and the prime Nobility were 
thereby inured to the exercise of Arms. Some¬ 
times the Bands performed mock fights and 
sieges, of which the King, in his Journal, 
mentions one in his second year, where thirty 
Gentlemen defended a fortress at Greenwich 
against an hundred assailants. Besides which, 
tournaments, running, shooting, &c. were in 
frequent use, wherein this young and active 
Monarch bore a part, as he tells us himself. “ A 
“ Challenge,” says the King, “ was made by 
“ Me, that I, with Sixteen of my Chamber, 
“ should Run at Base, * * Shoot, and Run at the 

Strand-Cross (where the Nevv-Church now stands) and 
Charing-Cross, it having become almost impassable. This 
Act is printed in Rastall’s Statutes. 

* This Diversion, by some called Prison-Base, and by 
others Prison-Bars, is still known in several parts of England. 
Few traces of this old diversion of Running at the Ring now 
remain. The practice is held not to be very ancient, and 
indeed, from the little comparative exertion required, seems 
rather to have succeeded Tilts and Tournaments, after the 
rage for personal engagements was worn out. It is, however, 
old enough to be almost forgotten. 

As to the rules generally adhered to in this exercise, they 


I 


' 



44 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF \_Edward 

ic Ring, with any Seventeen of my Servants, 
“ Gentlemen in the Court.” Among those who 


are only to be found in a very obscure pamphlet printed at 
London in 1603, and afterwards re-printed at Edinburgh in 
1687, containing the ceremonial of the Baptism of Henry 
Prince of Wales, performed at Edinburgh, A.D. 1594, and 
of the public entertainments consequent upon it. 

** Every lackie carrying in his hand his Master’s Launce, 
they began their pastime by running at the Ring and Glove; 

** the Laws whereof were these : 

t( 1. That all the persons of this pastime compeare masked, 

“ and in such order as they come into the Field, so to 
“ run out all their courses. 

u 2. That none use any other Ring but that which is put up: 

“ and use no other Launce but that which they have 
brought for themselves. 

** 3. He that twice touches the Ring, or stirs it, winneth as 
“ muche [as] if he carried away the Ring. 

“ 4. He that lets his Launce fall out of his hand is deprived 
** of all the rest of his courses. 

“ 5. That every one run with loose reins, and with as much 
“ speed as his horse hath. 

“ 6. That none after his Race, in up-taking of his Horse, lay 
“ his Launce upon his shoulder, under the pain of losse of 
“ that which he hath done in his course. 

** 7. He that carrieth not his Launce under his arme, loseth 
“ his course. 

“ 8. That none, until his three courses be ended, chaunge his 
“ horse, if he be not hurt, or upon some other considera- 
“ tion moved to chaunge him.” 

The result on this occasion was, that, i( Proof being made, 
*' the Victory fell to the Duke of Lennox, who bringiug it 
“ [the Ring] to his Side and Partie, had the praise and 
“ prize adjudged to himself.” The reward is described to 
have been “ a fair and rich Ring of Diamonds,” given by the 
Queen. 

King Edward’s account, observes, how difficult it was to 



GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


45 


VI.] 

entered the Lists against the King, were several 
of the younger and most active of the Band of 
Gentlemen Pensioners—as men trained to athletic 
exercises, glad to signalize themselves, and 

provoke the King’s notice in such honourable 

. ; * ) 

encounters. 

Stowe mentions another Muster made at 
♦ / 

Greenwich, in the last year of the King’s reign, 
where the Captain of the Pensioners (the Marquis 

of Northampton) mustered again as High Cham- 

* 

berlain ; and the Lord Bray (the Lieutenant) had 
the command of the Pensioners. The same 
account is recorded by different authors. 

These private Companies of Band-Men, as the 
King calls them, seem to have been, for the most 
part, provided for, in point of expence, by the 
King ; though the men were to be found by the 
Captain, and evidently were disposed of according 
to his Majesty’s pleasure. Thus, from the King’s 
Journal, it appears, that the Band which the 
Duke of Somerset had, was, after his attainder. 


carry the Prize ; for his Majesty tells us, that in One Hun¬ 
dred and Twenty Courses the Bing was taken but three times, 



THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


46 


[.Edicara 


appointed to the Duke of Suffolk. The Duke of 
Northumberland having' under him an Hundred 
Men of Arms, and an Hundred Light Horse, 
resigned Fifty Men of Arms to his son the Earl 
of Warwick. When the Earl of Pembroke 
quitted the office of Master of the Horse, he 
likewise gave up Fifty of his Men of Arms, as 
being a command under the King, which were 
equally divided between Sir Philip Hobbey and 
Sir John Gates: the rest the Earl kept, as being 
his own licenced retainers.* 


* Though, the raising these Bands lay upon their Captains 
respectively ; yet the pay for them did not commence till the 
Corps was completed. Thus it appears in the 21st year of 
King Henry VI. that some Lord (not mentioned by name,) 
who had desired to have wages advanced to him before he 
made his Muster, was answered by the Privy Council, that 
t( In the King’s that dead is, neither my Lord of Bedford, 
“ neither my Lord of Gloucester, (both of them Brothers to 
*' King Henry V.) never begun of their wages for them of their 
*' retinues, untill the time that they had made their whole 
“ musters.” We may observe how rigid the Council was in 
this respect from what follows, viz. and my Lord of 
<f Gloucester, for lack of two Spears of his retinue, was not 
allowed.” In these common Bands, as they were styled, 
great abuses were found in the reign of King Edward VI. As 
to what we now call Regiments, they seem to have been 
adopted by us from France, where they were first established 


-> 


I 




I 


VI.J GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 47 

As the formation of these bodies was at the 
pleasure of the King, by letters from the Council- 
Board, so was their dissolution. The King tells 
us, in his Journal, that it was agreed (in 
Council, from whence every public act, exclusive 
of the Parliament, issued) that “ the Bands of 
“ Men of Arms appointed to Mr. Sidney, Mr. 
“ Vice-Chamberlain [Sir John Gates,] Mr. 
ec Hobbey, and Mr. Sadler, should not be fur- 
ec nished, but left off.”* * 

That these Bands were profitable as well as 
honourable to the Captain, is testified by Sir 
Robert Cary (afterwards Earl of Monmouth) who 
had a command upon the Middle March of 
Scotland under Queen Elizabeth, and laments, 
that on the accession of King James, he lost the 
pay of Forty Horse which the Queen had given 


in the Reign of Charles IX. about the year 1569 ; the French 
herein probably followed the Spaniards, for the term is 
Spanish—Regimiento. 

* Mister or Master was, at that time, often applied to 
Knights as well as Gentlemen; for hereby are meant Sir Henry 
Sidney, Sir Philip Hobbey, and Sir Ralph Sadler—the last 
of whom was at that time a Knight-Banneret, as appears 
from the preceding part of the King’s Journal. 




48 the honourable band of [. Edward 

him. These Horsemen he had before described 
to be for the most part the Servants of his 
Household, which, to use his own words, were 
“ Gentlemen’s Sons in the Country, and Younger 
Brothers of good Rank.”* 

In the higher Line, of which we have been 
speaking, the Men of Arms were proportionahly 
of greater Quality, viz. the Younger Sons of the 
Nobility, of Bannerets, &c. It was at this 
period an honour for the young Nobility to be 
enrolled under another gallant Commander, 
though of inferior rank ; and we are told that 
when King Henry VIII. had acquired reputation 
in his first war, and took the part of Spain against 
Louis XII. King of France, the Emperor Maxi¬ 
milian I. did not disdain to serve under the King.^ 


* From hence it should seem that these Cadets were merely 
expectants, and served without pay. Sir Robert farther 
insinuates that the discharge of this Troop would be no in¬ 
considerable saving to the Crown. In fact, there was no 
occasion for such Forces on the Marches, after the Union of 
the Two Crowns. 

f Burnet's History of the Reformation.—The Emperor and 
all his Band wore the Cross of St. George and the Union Rose 
on their breasts. The Emperor was, indeed, a Knight of 



VI.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 49 

The Band has been drawn out among the 
Gendarmerie, and in the Field under the King’s 

i ^ 

Banner, and had it not been for the timely dis- 

- ( 

covery of the Duke of Somerset’s conspiracy 
they would have been found in action ; for it was 
one part of Somerset’s traiterous intentions to 
have attacked the whole Gendarmerie, on a 
Muster-day, with two thousand Footmen belong- * 
ing to Sir Henry Vane, and with an Hundred of 
his own Horsemen, besides others in his interest, 
who were to have at first appeared in the Field as 
simple spectators of the Muster. This was 
confessed by Sir Thomas Palmer, one of the 
Conspirators. The intention was bloody ; for 
the King says, 6( the Duke intended no quarter, 
“ and that all the Horse of the Gendarmerie 
“ were to have been slain.” Sir Henry Vane’s 
part in this intended massacre very deservedly 
cost him his life. 

We will now revert to the Band in a more quiet 

• ^ * * I 

hour. When the Queen Dowager of Scotland, 

- - - ' 

the Garter:—but the compliment lay in his wearing the latter 
Badge in addition to the former, and obliging his men to wear 
them both. 



SO THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Edwardl 

, / , 

passing from France thither in 1550 was driven 
by a storm into Portsmouth, and had determined 
to proceed by land, she took the opportunity of 
visiting Iving Edward, and was received at 
Hampton Court by many of the Nobility of both 
sexes, and by all the Pensioners with their 
Captain and Lieutenant. At her departure she 
was likewise escorted to the extremity of the City 
of London by the Pensioners, among many others, 
and was there received by the Gentlemen of the 

i t ■ t 

county of Middlesex.* 

The next occasion, when the Band is noticed* 

, * / i , ' > 

is in a progress made by the King, in the year 

1551, when we learn from his Majesty’s Journal* 

* 

that on the 16th of May, a Muster was made of 
all the Men of Arms (with some exceptions) and 
also of all the Pensioners, for the purpose of 

/ 

draughting a certain number out of each Band 


* The Band was likewise occasionally employed in Recep¬ 
tions of persons inferior to Royalty j for antecedent to this, 
in 1549, when the Count d’Anguien, and others of the French 
Nobility, arrived in England, they- were received at Black- 
heath by Lords deputed by the King, and among the rest by 
Lord Bray, at the head of the Pensioners. 



Vl.j GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 51 

for an Escort. The progress was long, and took up 
more than two months. The King tells us what 
number of each Band was appointed to attend 
him : but as no draught was made out of the 
King’s own Band, (the Pensioners) it is presuma¬ 
ble the whole went on that service. The King, 

however, had not been out a month before it was 

• ^ 

necessary to lessen his train, and it was accord¬ 
ingly reduced to an Hundred and Fifty men, 
picked out of all the Bands. The King estimates 
the Retinue to have consisted of near Four 
Thousand Horse, which, says he, “ were enough 
“ to eat up the country, for there was little 
“ meadow or hay all the way as I went.” This, 
is the last duty recorded of them, during this 
Reign, by which, however, we find they had 
encreased in the number of their attendants by 
the King’s account:—and Stowe likewise informs 
us that they had each of them Two Great Horses 
and a Gelding ; whereas, in the former Reign, 
each Pensioner had only two Great Horses, or 
optionally one Great Horse and a Gelding. 
During the greater part of this reign William 
Parr, Marquis of Northampton appears, from 


i 


52 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [. Edward 

the King's Journal, to have been Captain of the 

% 

Band ; and from a MS. list of Queen Mary’s 
Household in the Library of the Society of Anti¬ 
quaries of London, it appears he held it till his 

> % 
attainder, which took place in a few weeks after 

the Queen’s accession : but whether he resumed 

•the command after he was restored in blood*, and 

\ 

V * ■ — ■ 

re-established in his honours, is not ascertainable. 

The Marquis of Northampton, though he was 
Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners, had 
another Band allotted to him, as Lord Great (or 
High) Chamberlain, in favour of which his 
Lordship procured the following Order of 
Council. 

“ In Council at Greenwich, May 11, 1550. 

“ Upon motion made by the Lord Great 

/ ^ % 

Chamberlain, it was agreed, that from hence- 
“ forth the Gentlemen at Arms-f* should be 
“ placed successively in the Pensioners’ rooms 

* The Queen acceded to the Throne July 6, 1553.—The 
Marquis was committed to the Tower July 2d, and tried 
August 18. He died in 1571. 

t The Serjeants at Arms, assembled with the Honourable 
Band, in the Presence Chamber, upon all state and public 
occasions:—which practice is still continued. 



VI.'] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. bS 

“ at every avoidance, and so give attendance on 
his Lordship as their Captain.” 


The arrangement of the Band, in Queen 

_ * 

Mary’s Reign differed very little from what it had 
been in her brother’s, except that the Captain 
(William Parr, Marquis of Northampton) had 
a Table, at which it is probable the Lieutenant, 
(Lord Bray) and the Standard Bearer (Sir 
William Stafford) dined*. In the next Reign 
we shall find Tables, not only for the Officers, 

but for such of the Pensioners as were upon duty ; 

* 

for we have already seen they were required only 
to wait quarterly in equal divisions of half the 
Band at a time'}-. 


* These appear to have been the only Officers belonging to 
the Band; and the names of most of the Gentlemen are the same 
as occur in the yearl526: but as this Roll was made immediately 
pn the Queen’s Accession, it may rather be considered as a 
list of King Edward’s Band, than of her own. What changes 
might take place afterwards in this reign, from religious 
motives, we do not know, though it is scarcely probable that 
the Queen would retain any but such as were firmly in the 
I nterest of the Church of Rome, 
t Vide pages 28-9.—Henry VIII. 





54 the honourable band of [ Queen 

■ > # ■ 

The number at this period was the same as it 

/ " ' ( 

had thitherto been—-viz. Fifty ; of whom the 

Three first were Knights. The pay of the 

* 

Officers does not appear, but the Stipend of the 
Pensioners was £46:13s : 4d. each, except that 
one of them (Thomas Astley) had an allowance 
of TOO Marks, (£66:13s: 4d.) for which no 
satisfactory reason occurs. 

The first View we have of the Band in this 
Reign, when upon duty, is in an account of the 
Queen’s procession from the Tower to Westmin¬ 
ster, on the day preceding the Coronation (a 
customary previous part of the solemnity in those 
times.) Mr. Gough in his Edition of Perlin’s 
Description of England, in the preface tells us, 

, t t 

ec On each side of the procession, went both the 

i 

“ Gentlemen of the Axe and the Archers, to 

f v. 

“ the number of 300*.” 

The most conspicuous appearance the Pen¬ 
sioners made in this Reign was in the year 
1553, when they were of real and essential use 

* This must pass for a round number, unless we understand 
the Archers to have been a part of the Yeomen of the Guard, 
armed with Bows, as in fact they were in the preceding reigns. 


i 



GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 



OJ 


» 

as a military body; for on the insurrection 
of Sir Thomas Wyat and others, they were very 

active in defending the Palace of Whitehall, the 

* 

particulars of which are given on the authority 
of Edward Underhill, Esq.* one of the Band, 
who was present. 

The part they took in this affair was as follows: 

/ 

u The Queen, and her people at the Court, 
were in great consternation, when Wyat was 
“ come to Southwark, with his army, intending 
“ to enter London that way. The Gentlemen 
“ Pensioners were commanded to watch in Ar- 
mour that night, for the preservation of the 
“ Queen’s Person ; and they came up into the 

4 ‘ Chamber of Presence, with their Pole Axes 

/ 

ie in their hands. Whereat the Ladies were 

/ ' „ i 

4C very fearful ; some lamenting, crying, and 
“ wringing their hands, and said, Alas! there is 
u some great mischief towards us ! we shall all be 


* Mr. Underhill was first a Man of Arms, at the Siege of 
Boulogne, and afterwards, for his merit, was made a Gentleman 
Pensioner by Henry VIII. in which capacity he likewise served 
King Edward VI. and Queen Mary. He was of a respectable 
family, being the son of Thomas Underhill, of Honingtou, in 
Warwickshire, Esquire.— Sirype's Memorials. 



56 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Queen 

A 

“ destroyed this night! what a sight is this to 

" i 

“ see the Queen s Chamber full of armed Men! 
“ the like was never seen or heard of.” The 
Band in their usual Habits de la Cour, with their 
Battle Axes, was an object familiar to the Ladies; 
but the panic arose from seeing them in the same 
place in Armour and on such an occasion. Soon 
afterwards the danger encreased, and the Palace 

was beset by a party of the rebels from Westmin- 

% 

ster, and the gates closed. The Pensioners were 
then in the Hall/from whence they issued, and 
demanded that the gates might be opened, 
saying, “ it was too much shame that the gates 
“ should be thus shut for a few rebels—the Queen 
“ shall see us fell down her enemies this day 
“ before her face.” The Gates were then opened; 
but the Queen —“ earnestly requested that they 
“ (the Pensioners) would not go out of her sight,” 
intimating that “ her only trust was in them for 
“ the defence of her person that day.” 

The Queen was in the gallery over the gate. 
They then marched before the gallery window, 
“ when she spake unto them, requiring them as 
“ they were Gentlemen in whom she only trust- 


I 


Mary .] gentlemen pensioners. . 57 

* c ed, that they would not go from that place.” 
'There they marched up and down for the space of 
an hour, when news was brought that Wyat was 
taken. “ Anon after,” says Underhill's narrative, 
** the Guard of Pensioners were all brought into 
“ the Queen’s Presence, and every one kissed 
“ her hand ; of whom they had great thanks and 
large promises, how good she would be unto 
cc them : but few or none of us got any thing, 
“ although she was very liberal to many others 
* c that were enemies to God’s Word, as few' of us 
were*.” 

The next opportunity we have of observing 

the Band is on the Marriage of Queen Mary with 

Prince Philip of Spaing, and on an occasion of 

greater tranquillity, in the year 1556, when, on 

the 20th of January there was a muster before the 

% 

* The above narrative is given from Fox’s MS. in Strype s 
Memorials. The Queen accounted this so great an escape, 
that Medals were struck in remembrance of it. 

f On which occasion the Gentlemen Pensioners carried up 
the dinner. Their Captain, Thomas Ratcliffe, Earl of Sussex, 
officiated as Sewer. Since which period the Band have not 
only carried up the Dinner at the marriage of the Kings and 
Queens of England, but also on their Coronations. The office 

of the Sewer is to place the Dishes properly on the Table. 

' . 

/ > 



THE HONOURABLE B4ND OF 


[ Queen 



Queen. “ At Greenwich Park the Queen’s Pen- 

✓ 

“ sioners mustered in bright Harness, and many 
tc barbed Horses. Every Pensioner had three Men 

t 

“ in Green Coats, guarded with White; so they 
“ rode about the Park, three in rank, upon 
“ Horses, with Spears in their hands, the colours 

“ White and Green*. Afore rode Trumpeters 

/ 

“ blowing; next a Man of Arms, bearing a 
“ Standard of Red and Yellow; in the Standard 
“ a White Hart'}-, and on the one side a Black 
“ Eagle with gilded legs|'. Between Two and 

“ Three of the clock they came down and 

* / * • 

“ mustered before the Queen at the Park Gate : 

a 

“ before the Pensioners rode many Gentlemen 
“ on Gennets|j and light Horses, one whereof 


* These were favourite colours, and often used in Badges 
by the House of Tudor. A Green and White uniform was 
worn by the Lord High Admiral Clinton and his Captains, on 
the reception of the Prince of Spain.— Strype's Memorials. 

f The Hart was one of the Queen’s cognizances, for it 
appears upon a Standard borne at her funeral— Strype's Mem. 

t A part of King Philip’s Armorial Bearings, as the son of 
the Emperor Charles V. 

|| Small Spanish Horses. The riders were most probably 
part of the suite of King Philip. 



t 



Mary.l^ gentlemen pensioners. 


59 


if rode upon the finest Mule* that ever was seen* 
and so they rode to and fro before her Majesty. 
“ At length the Queen thanked them all for 
“ their pains, and so they departed :—there were 
“ of the Pensioners Fifty and more, besides their 
“ Men of Arms.” In the year 1557, there was 
a similar Muster. 


In the early part of the Reign of Queen Eliza¬ 
beth, we do not meet with any material change 
in the Band itself. The establishment, as to the 
number both of Officers and Pensioners, was the 
same as it had been left by Queen Mary ; but the 
pay of the latter seems to have been advanced to 
£50 each. Another advantageous circumstance 
likewise occurs at some period in this reign, viz. 


* The Spanish Mules were at that time in great request, 
so that though we have seen Cardinal Wolsey mounted on his 
Mule in the preceding Reign, it must not, however, be attri¬ 
buted to his humility. 





60 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF „ [Queen 

Diet at a Royal Table, allowed to the Gentlemen 
in waiting, as well as to the Officers, though no 
certain date can be ascertained to fix the time 
of its taking place, with any degree of precision. 
The fact itself is onlv to be collected from some 

J 

Articles for the government of the Band, which 

4 

is inserted at the end of this reign. 

Notwithstanding the latitude of Quarterly¬ 
waiting, which we have seen w r as obtained as an 
indulgence to the Band, towards the end of the 
reign of King Henry VIII. by Sir Anthony 
Browne, the whole body were in frequent attend¬ 
ance on her Majesty, both in the Court and in 

Progresses :—Thus when Queen Elizabeth vi- 

\ K 

sited Archbishop Parker at Canterbury in 1573, 
the Dinner was served by Her Majesty’s Pen¬ 
sioners ; and in the year 1598, Hentzner informs 

' ' t . \ j, •. ** 

us he saw the Queen go to Chapel on a Sunday, 
(and it does not appear to have been a high 
festival) when she was “ guarded on each side by 
“ the Gentlemen Pensioners, Fifty in number, 
“ with gilt Battle-Axes.”* As the whole Band 


'* The translation of Heutzner’s Travels is published sepa* 


\ 


i 




Elizabeth .] gentlemen pensioners. 61 

* ' * A 

attended the Queen on certain occasions, when she 
moved in domestic state, it cannot be supposed 
but that it escorted her in progresses and similar 
movements of the Court, as we find it did in a 
short excursion made by the Queen in 1561 into 
various parts of the City of London and its adja- 

v 

cencies. Again, in the year 1564, when the 
Queen visited the University of Cambridge, 
where she was entertained with literary and scho- 
lastic exercises, she was escorted to a Play by 
“ All the Pensioners on both sides, with torch- 
“ staves*.” 

The most splendid appearance, however, that 
was made by the Band on such occasions, seems 
to have been when the Queen honoured Henry 


rately from the Latin, (first printed together at Strawberry- 
Hill) in Dodsley’s Fugitive Pieces. Hentzner, on this 
occasion, in the original, distinguishes the Pensioners by the 
Title of Satellites Nobiles. The MS. accounts of the Queen Y 
Household agree with this in point of number. 

The Band, upon Sundays and other days, when His Ma¬ 
jesty (George III.) attended the Chapel Royal at St. James’s, 
(and since his lamented indisposition, when His Royal Highness 
the Prince Regent attends,) a respectable part of the Chapel it 
appropriated for the use of the Gentlemen. 

* Peck's Desiderata Curios a 



, * 


62 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Queen 

\ 

Lord Hunsdon, her kinsman, and Captain of the 
Band, with a visit at Hunsdon House in Hert¬ 
fordshire, in the year 1580*. 

Thus much, as to the civil line of escort in 
which the Queen used the Band ; but we find she 
likewise sometimes saw them in the field, as her 


* The Queen and Henry Lord Hunsdon were maternally 
Cousins in the first degree., both being descended ffom the 
same Grandfather. 

A Painting of the procession alluded to was made by com¬ 
mand of Lord Hunsdon himself, and is preserved, in the col¬ 
lection of the Right Honourable Lord Digby, at Sherborne 
Castle, in Dorsetshire j from which a Print was engraved by 
Vertue. In this Painting the Gentlemen of the Band are 
dressed uniformly in Black Cloaks (of the fashion of the times) 
with Ruffs about their Necks, and gold Chains over their 
shoulders 5 the other parts of their Dress are of different 
colours, without any adherence to uniformity. The Queen, 
by this appearance of the Band, dressed in an outward garment 
of Black, does not seem to have had any regard to the colours 
of Green and White, for which both her father and her sister 
had such a predilection. 

The Queen might now chuse to differ as much as possible 
from Queen Mary, even in minutite, though she temporized in 
them while her sister was on the throne :—for on Queen Mary’s 
accession in 1553, when the Princess Elizabeth came to the 
Court, her retinue was uniformly dressed ,—“ in Green 
" guarded with White Velvet, Satin, Taffata, or Clothy 
' f according to their Qualities .”—Strypes Memorials. 


\ 



Elizabeth .] gentlemen pensioners. 63 

sister had done, in Masters and martial exercises. 
In the year 1559 there was a Tilt performed by 
the Band before her Majesty, at Greenwich, on 
which occasion Lists were prepared in the Park, 
“ for the Queen’s Pensioners, who were to run 
“ with Spears.” Stowe tells us, that on the 28th 
of March 1569, “ The Pensioners, well appointed 
“ in armour on horseback, mustered before the 

' 'T 7 t ’ 

“ Queen’s Majesty in Hyde Park, beside West- 
“ minster.” 

The studious attachment to the external honour 
of her Court by the choice of proper officers, as 
well in point of personal appearance, as in birth 
and education, is given us by Francis Osborne, 

* i 

Esq. who lived near the time of which he writes ; 
though it must be confessed, that from one 
instance which he mentions, the Queen seems to 
have carried her attention sometimes to a frivo- 

i 

lous nicety* *. “ This Princess,” says he, “ in 
“ imitation of her Father, Henry VIII. did 
“ admit none about her for Pensioners, Privy 


* This gentleman was then a Cadet of the family seated 

at Chicksands, in Bedfordshire .—-Osborne s Works. 

* 


/ 



64 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Queeit 

“ Chamber Men*, Squires of the Body, Carvers, 

* m 

“ Cup bearers. Sewers, &c. (which were not a 
“ few in number) but persons of stature, strength, 

i 

“ and birth, refusing to one her consent (de- 
“ manded before any could be admitted to the 
“ meanest place in her house) because he want- 
“ ed a tooth : yet was never known to desert 
“ any for age or other infirmity, after once 
<c inrolled, but either continued them, or, upon 
“ their discharge, gave them considerable and 
“ well paid pensions. As for her Guard, Ushers-}-, 
u Porters, and all attending below stairs, they 
“ were of a no less extraordinary size, than acti- 
“ vity for Shooting, throwing the Bar, the 
“ Weight, Wrestling, &c.** 

But to return, more immediately to the Pen¬ 
sioners. Agreeably to what is stated in Lord 

Hunsdon’s Letter J, that the Band was a seminary 

• ■* , t 

from which were derived Statesmen, and Men of 


* Thi* was the term given to the Gentlemen of the Privy 
Chamber, and is to be met with on various occasions. 

f By these are meant Yeomen-Ushers, a branch of the 
Yeomen of the Guard. 

X Vide pages 76-79.—James I. 



Elizabeth^ gentlemen pensioners, 65 

Eminence, in various departments, several may 
be traced who arose to high employments, and 
one indeed became ultimately Lord Chancellor. 
This was Sir Christopher Hatton, who, in the 
Reign of Queen Elizabeth, from being one of 
the Fifty Gentlemen Pensioners, was afterwards 
successively a Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, 
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, Vice 
Chamberlain, a Knight of the Garter, and, at 
last. High Chancellor. Nothing could do more 
honour to the Band than that one of it should arise 
to the first civil employment in the kingdom. 

Towards the close of this reign it appears, from 
some Ordinances for the regulation of the Band, 
that the Pensioners were allowed a Quarterly- 
Waiting in divisions, so that only one third part 
of the Band (and that with special leave of the 
Queen or the Officers) be absent at a time. 
From these Articles it is evident that the Gen- 

i 

tlemen (those on duty at least) had a Table, 
which they never appear to have had before, in 
common with the Captain, and others their 
superior Officers, and that it extended both to 
Dinner and Supper. These Orders are inserted, 

F 

\ 


i 


60 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ Queen 

not only to establish this point, but to shew the 

discipline then practiced in the Corps, and the 

■ 

attendance, regularity, and obedience expected 
from it. To these Articles is added the Oath to 
be taken by the Lieutenant and Standard Bearer. 
They are to be found, together with the orders 
made in the time of Sir Anthony Browne, fairly 
copied on vellum, in the Harleian Library, 
signed by Sir Henry Graye, Lieutenant, and by 
another person (perhaps the Standard Bearer) 
whose name is written very illegibly, and with a 
docquet, in these words, “ This Booke agreeth 
“ \Vith the Booke made in the tyme of Kynge 
“ Henry tlf eight signed then with the King’s 
“ owne hand, which remaineth with my Lord 
“ our Captain.” * By a note in another hand 
writing the Captain is explained to have been 
George, the second Lord Hunsdon, which cir¬ 
cumstance will lead us nearly to the date of this 
promulgation; for he succeeded his father Henry, 
the first Lord Hunsdon, in the command of the 
Band, on his decease in 1596, and died himself 
in the post in 1603, very soon after the accession 
of King James. 


V v 

_ \ 

Elizabeth .j gentlemen pensioners. 67 

> 7 \ 

The following are the Articles referred to in 
this Reign, belonging to the Gentlemen Pen¬ 
sioners :— 

“ First, Pier Highnes pleasure and com maun d- 
“ ment is, that as many of the said Gentlemen 
“ Pencyoners as be or hereafter shall be ordeyned 
“ and admitted, being not lycenced by her 
“ Majestie, the Captainc, Lieutenant, or Stan- 
u dard Bearer, be in the Queen’s Chamber of 
“ Presence every holydaye by nyne of the clocke 
“ in the fore noone, and every working daye by 
“ tenne of the clocke, and there to give attend- 
ie aunce with their Axes, ready toknowe what shall 
tc be commaunded them by the Queene’s Majestie, 
“ the Captaine, Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer. 

Jf 

“ Item, The said Gentlemen Pencyonet’s fayle 
i( not to bear their Axes, and to give attendance 
“ upon the Queene’s Majestie every suche daye 
“ or dayes as her Grace shall come abroade to 
“ Morninge Prayer, the Procession, or Offeringe, 
“ and from Morninge Prayer; to Evensonge, 
<c and from Evensonge; and to keepe the place 
“ where her Highnes shall passe to and fro as 
“ large as the rorne will serve. 

f2 


68 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Queen 

, . I v ' • V ^ 

/ 

cc Item, Her Grace’s commaundment is, That 
“ in her Majestie’s progresse-tyme, or in any 
“ other removinge, or yf her Highnes doth ryde, 

j 

“ the saide Gentlemen Pencyoners shall keepe 
<c snche places as to them shal be appointed 
“ by their Captaine, Lieutenant, or Standard 
“ Bearer. 

I , * V 

“ Item, The Queen’s commaundment is, That 
“ as well in her moste honnorable Chamber, as in 
» <c ail other places where her Highnes shall passe 
“ by them, and att their Boarde, they doe use 
honest communication, with sober lies, that is 
“ to w it, without Oathes, or any rage in talke. 

“ Item, That all the whole Band of the said 
:e Gentlemen Pencyoners, or as many of them as 
“ be resiaunt within the Courte for the tyme, 
f<r doe accompany the Captaine, Lieutenante, or 
Standard Bearer from their Dyninge or Sup- 
“ pinge Place to the Queene’s moste Honourable 

i 

“ Chambers. 

“ Item, The Q ueen’s further pleasure is, that 

u evry of the saide Gentlemen Pencyoners shall 

» 

<c at all tymes be obedient and conformable to 
“ all suche service as shall appertaine to the 


/ 


j 

7 


Elizabeth.'] gentlemen pensioners. G9 

-j \ 

, r • ■» 

“ Queene’s Majestie, wherein she ought to be 
“ served by the said Gentlemen, or by any of 
“ them, as well in her Grace’s Chambers as in all 
cc other places where her pleasure shal be to be 
u served by the commaundment of such as shall, 
u for the tyme being, have authoritye to com- 
“ maund and appointe the said Gentlemen Pen- 
“ cyoners, as all other the Queene’s servaunts. 

“ Item, Yf the said Gentlemen Pencyoners, 
<c or any of them, doe faile the daies of their 
(e appearance, in the place and howers before 
“ mencyoned, then the Checke to be for the first 
“ defaulte the losse of Three daies Wages, and 
u for the second defaulte the losse of Sixe daies 
“ Wages, and for the third defaulte the losse of 
u Fifteene dayes Wages*. 

“ Yf the said Gentlemen, or any of them, 
tc faile their attendaunce the daies of the 
C( Queene’s Highnes removinge, as well at the 


* By the Oath administered on the admission of every 
Gentlemau Pensioner into the Honourable Band, they swear 
to observe and keep not only all Orders heretofore made, 
but any that may be hereafter enacted for their better govern¬ 
ment. 


v 




70 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [QaefW 

i 

iC takynge of her horse, as at her lightinge, or 
u be absent when her Majestic goeth to Chappell 
“ to Morning Prayre, Procession, or Offeringe, 
“ and from Morninge Prayre; to Evensonge, and 
66 from Evensonge ; then the Check to be like da- 
u mages as is expressed in the Article above 
“ declared. 

\ 

\ 

“ Item, The Queene’s Majestie’s pleasure and 
“ commaundement is, That every of the saide 
“ Gentlemen Pencyoners shall have his Axe 
“ borne after him with a sufficient man, the 
“ Axe beinge cleane and bright, as well in all 
“ places out of her Grace’s Courte, as within the 
“ same Courte unto suche place or placis whereas 

“ [where] every Gentleman Pencyoner ought of 

< 

“ duty to beare it himself, upon paine of the 
“ Queene’s Highnes displeasure. 

“ Item, Where [as] the Queene’s Majesti ’s 
iC pleasure is. That every of the said Gentle- 
a men shall have three Monthes libertie in 
£t the Yeare of not waitinge, so they take that 
“ libertie by the appointment and knowledge of 
u Her Majesty, the Captaine, Lieutenante, or 
“ Standard Bearer, or of any of them: also when 


Elizabeth.'] gentlemen pensioners. 71 

44 and as many of them as shall obtayne any 

suche lycense, they shall thereupon, ere they 

departe from the Courte, give acknowledge- 
44 ment to the Clarke of the Checke, or his De- 
44 putie, of the tyme and tymes of theire said 
44 license, with the returnes of the same, or else 
44 the said license to be voyde and [they] to be 
u checked for theire absence. 

44 Item, Furthermore, her Majestic’s pleasure 
44 is, notwithstandinge any lycence given to any 
“ of the saide Gentlemen Pencyoners by Her 
“ Grace, the Captaine, Lieutenante, or Standard 
<( Bearer, that the said Captain, Lieutenant, or 
44 Standard Bearer doe always foresee that there 
44 shall not be absent at no tyme nor tymes above 
“ the third parte of the Band of the saide Gen- 
(( tie ren Pencyoners. 

u Item, That every of the saide Gentlemen 
46 Pencyoners be well and sufficiently provided 
“ and furnished of his two Great Horses for 
“ himself and his servaunte, according to his 
44 Oathe, with harness and all ot’r er habiliments 
44 to the same appertayninge, to be ready with 
44 the premisses within two daies warninge given 


% 


) 


v 

72 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF f Qlieen 

“ unto them by theire Captaine, Lieutenante, or 
“ Standard Bearer upon paine of forfeiture of 
“ tenne daies Wages for the first defaulte, and 
“ for the second defaulte to forfeit a month’s 
“ Wages, and for the third offence to be clearly 
“ expulsed and put out of the rome of a Gen- 
(C tie man Pencyoner, and to lose his whole Quar- 

! i 

<( ter’s Wages. 

“ Item, The Clarcke of the Check, or suche 
u his Deputie as shal be thought sufficient by 
“ the Captaine, Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer, 
“ to admyt, shall be every daye in the Queene’s 
C( Grace’s Chamber of Presence by nyne of the 
“ Clocke before Noone, there to receave the 
“ appearance of the saide Gentlemen Pencyoners: 
“ and also the said Clarcke, or his Deputy, to be 
at all other placis where the saide Gentlemen 
“ shall be appoynted to give theire attendaunce 
“ upon the Queene’s Majestic. 

u Item, The Queene’s pleasure is, That every 
“ Gentlemen Pencyoner shall pay to the Clarcke 
“ of the Checke, at the takinge of his Othe, Ten 
u Shillings, which the Clarke oughte of dutye 
- to have ; and that is, to witte, for the givinge 


\ 


\ 


i 


/ 


Elizabeth .] gentlemen pensioners. 73 

“ of every ol the saide Gentlemen his Oathe 
“ Sixe Shilling's and Eight Pence, and the other 
“ Tin ee Shillings and Fovver Pence is for the 
“ coppye of the same Oathe to them mynistered, 
“ as aforesaide, and of all these Articles to be by 
* c the said Clarke delivered to every of the saide 
cc Gentlemen Pencyoners.” 

* 

The Oathe of the Lieutenante and Standard 

Bearer. 

“ You shall sweare to be trewe and faithfull 
s * subjecte and servante unto our Sovereigne 
Lady Elizabeth by the Grace of God Queene 
“ of England, Fraunce, and Ireland, Defender of 
“ Faithe, &c. in Earth supreme heade of the 
“ Churches of England and Ireland, according 
<c to the limitacon of the Acte made for the sta- 

c( blishment of her Highnes succession in the 

/ 

<c Crowne ymperiall of this her Realm of England 
“ and Ireland, And you shall truely and dili- 
“ gently give your attendaunce in the rome of 
“ Lieutenante [or Standard Bearer] of the Band of 
“ her Majestie’s Gentlemen Pencyoners. You 
“ shal be retayned to nae psone ne psones of no 


74* THE HONOURABLE BAND OF '[Queen 

u degree or condicon by Oathe, Livery, Badge, 
16 Promise, or otherwise, but only to her Grace, 
“ withoute her especial licence : And you shall 
“ not hereafter heare or knowe of any thinge 
u that shal be hurteful or prejudiciall to her moste 
u Royall psone, or to her Heires in forme above- 
“ said, especially in Treason, but you shall 
“ withstand it to th’uttermoste of your power, 
“ and the same, with all diligence to you possible 
“ reveale and disclose to the Queene’s Highnes, 
“ or to your Captaine for the tyme being, or in 
“ his absence to some of her Majestic’s Privy 
“ Councell, or for wante of them to the Lieute- 
“ narite of the said Gentlemen Pencyoners, or to 
“ suclie other as you shall knowe will discover 
“ the same to her Grace. You shall be conti- 
u newally furnished of double Plorse and Men, 
“ and provide that your self and your men may 
“ be alsoe well furnished with Harnes^se accord- 
“ ing to your Rome, to serve the Queene’s 
u Majestic, in tyme of neede, or otherwise for 
“ her Grace’s pleasure. You shall truely and 
,c diligently to your power observe and keepe 
“ from this day forward all and every such 



Elizabeth^] gentlemen pensioners. 75 

“ reasonable Articles, Rules, and Ordinatinces 
<c as shall be devised by the Queene s Majestie, 
u and set forthe, signed with her Grace’s hand, 
“ for your better Usage and Order. And all 
suche causes as by waye of secrecye and coun- 
cell shal be shewed unto you by the Queene’s 
Majestie, the Captaine, or by his Lieute- 
“ nante, you shall keepe secrete without disco- 
“ veringe of the same to any person or persons 
“ till you shall be thereunto commaunded. And 
“ alsoe you shall make your Muster in suche 
<c Harnesse and other Habilyments of Warre 
“ and uppon such Horses as shal be your owne 
<c proper goodes and none other mans. And this 
“ you shall well and truely observe and keepe, 
<c and serve the Queene’s High lie's in the saide 
“ rome of her Majestie’s Lieutenant [or Standard 
u Bearer.] 

“ Soe helpe you God, and by the holy Con- 
u tents of this Booke.” 


i 




76 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [James 


The state of the Corps on the accession of 
James I. cannot better appear than from the 

following Letter extracted from the Order Book 

♦ ’ 

of the Band from George Lord Hunsdon, Cap¬ 
tain of the Pensioners, addressed to the King, 
before he came to England immediately on the 
Queen’s death, and before her Obsequies were 
performed. We shall there find a description of 
the Band as it stood at that period, conformably 
with what we have before seen in the Queen’s 
life-time ; from whence, we may further discern 
that its primary intention was then adhered to in 
discipline, dignity, and in the quality of the 
Gentlemen themselves, as well as that its origi¬ 
nal appearance in accoutrements, and other 
military appendages was likewise preserved. 

George Lord Hunsdon to King James. 

“ Most mighty and most gracious Liege and 

i - • " 

“ Sovereign, among many other honours and 



I.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 77 

u duties which I do owe unto the memory of 
(e my late deceased Sovereign this is not the 
“ least, that it pleased Her Majesty upon the 
“ decease of my Lord and Father, and who also 
“ enjoyed the same honourable office, to grace 
“ me with the Captainship of her Band of Gen- 
“ tlemen Pensioners, which place and dignity I 
“ have to this present enjoyed : for the further 
“ continuance whereof I humbly desire to un- 
te derstand your Majesty’s direction, and withall 
“ do think it a matter agreeable to my duty and 
“ allegiance plainly and truly to inform your 
“ Majesty of the institution, nature, quality, and 

i 

u service of this Honourable Band. They are in 
(( all Fifty Gentlemen, besides Myself, the Lieu- 
“ tenant, Standard Bearer, Clerk of the Cheque, 
“ and Gentleman Harbinger, chosen out of the 
u best and antientcst Families of England, and 
“ some of them Sons to Earls, Barons, Knights, 
“ and Esquires, men thereunto especially re- 
“ commended for their worthiness and suffici- 
“ ency, without any stain or taint of dishonour, 
“ or disparagement in blood. Her Majesty and 
“ other Princes her predecessors have found great 


78 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [« Jame& 

' ' ' 

“ use of their sendee, as well in the guard and 
“ defence of their royal persons, as also in sun- 
“ dry other important employments, as well civil 
“ as military, at home and abroad; insomuch as 
“ it hath served them always as a nursery to 
breed up Deputies of Ireland, Ambassadors 
“ into foreign parts, Counsellors of State, Cap- 
<e tains of the Guard, Governors of Places, and 
“ Commanders in the Wars, both by Land and 
“ Sea. Withal I cannot omit to signify to your 
“ Majesty their alacrity and affection wherewith, 
“ upon the decease of Her Highness, they did 
“ embrace your Majesty’s title and cause ; inso- 
“ much that, upon my motion, they did most 
“ willingly offer themselves to a strong and set- 
“ tied combination, by a solemn Oath and Vow, 
to defend and prosecute your Majesty’s lawful 
“ Right and Title by themselves, their Friends, 

“ Allies, and Followers (being no contemptible 
“ portion of this kingdom) to the last drop of 
“ their blood, against all impugners whatsoever; 

“ with which humble and dutiful desires of 
<c theirs to serve your Majesty, I thought it my 
“ part and duty to acquaint you, and withal 


I] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


79 


“ humbly desire to know your Majesty’s plea- 
“ sure and resolution as concerning them. I 

o 

cc haye caused them to remain all about the 
“ Court with their Horses, Armour, and Men, 
“ to attend the Body of our late Royal Mistress, 
“ and being generally all desirous to wait upon 
“ your Majesty at your entry into this kingdom, 
“ as those that would be loth to be second to 
“ any in all obsequious and serviceable duties 
“ to your Majesty, wherein I humbly desire your 
“ Majesty’s further direction, 

“ And ever desire Almighty God, &c.” 

The following testimony of John Earl of Clare 
(who had been in the Band when Sir John 
Holies) delivered in these words, by his kinsman 
Mr. Gervase Holies, will only tend to shew that 
the Band lost much of its dignity early in the 
reign of King James:— u I have heard the Earl 
“ of Clare say that when he was Pensioner to 
iC the Queen, he did not know a worse man of 
“ the whole Band than himself; and that all the 
world knew he had then an inheritance ot 
“ X C 4,Q00 a year. It was the constant custom 


SO THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [James 

,/ , t 

“ of that Queen/’ continues Mr. Holies, ££ to 

££ call out of all counties in the kingdom the 
“ Gentlemen of the greatest hopes, and the best 
“ fortune and families, and with those to fill the 
“ more honourable rooms [places] of her House- 
u hold Servants, by which she honoured them, 
C£ obliged their Kindred and Allyance, and for- 
£e tified herself.”* 

From hence we may observe, that it was not 
the emolument or any lucrative motive which in 
that reign made gentlemen solicitous to be admit¬ 
ted into the Band; but the pure dignity of the 
post itself, added to the laudable ambition of 
being employed in public characters abroad, or 
of filling high offices at home. 

Mr. Holies then goes on with some asperity, 
and is very severe upon King James, and his 
adherents; adding that when most of those places 
were filled by such inconsiderable persons as were 
preferred by favourites, or as money introduced, 
the better sort of the Gentry forsook the Court; 
and among the rest Sir John Holies. 


* Collins's Historical Collections . 




GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


81 


I] 

In so mixed a group, however, it must be 
expected to find a variety of characters; and 
accordingly, on the other hand, another of the 
Corps, in this Reign disgraced his post as much 
as Sir Christopher Hatton had before reflected 
lustre upon it. This Gentleman was of the ancient 
noble name of Percy, cousin to Henry then Earl 
of Northumberland, Captain of the Band, and 
who, unfortunately both for himself and his 
kinsman, was deeply engaged in the Popish Plot. 
He appears to have been the most active and 
atrocious abettor of that Conspiracy, insomuch 
that a particular Proclamation was issued in 1605 
containing not only a promise of pardon to any 
of his accomplices who should apprehend him; 
but offering a Reward of One Thousand Pounds 
at the least, to any that should bring him alive, 
as much insight was expected from his confession 
towards the discovery of his associates, and the 
unravelling that mysterious affair.* Mr. Percy 


* This Proclamation is extant (among others relative to 
this business) in a printed Copy, published by Authority in 
1609. 

G 


i 



82 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ James 

did not suffer the disgrace of an execution, as 
many others did, being killed with a few of his 
confederates, in a rencounter with the Posse-Comi- 
tatus in the country whither they had fled: but 
the Earl of Northumberland was by a sentence 
of the Star Chamber, fined Thirty Thousand 
Pounds, and not only deprived of all his places, 
but condemned to perpetual imprisonment for 
Misprision of Treason in admitting his kinsman 
whom he knew to be a Popish Recusant, into the 
Band, without tendering to him the Oath. The 



where lie remained fifteen years.* 


* More particulars of Mr. Percy, relative to the Conspiracy, 
may be seen in Rapin's History of England. It is, however, 
worth observing, that the fate of some of the Conspirators who 
fled was singularly apposite to their intended crime 5 for two 
or three of them, who had fortified themselves in a house in 
which they were besieged, lost their lives by the explosion of 
a barrel of their own Gunpowder.— Harrington s Nugce An¬ 
tiques. 

All this appears from Dug dale s Baronage , JVilsons Life 
of King James , and from the Trial of Henry Garnett , in the 
State Trials. The following detailed account written in the 
form of a Letter, though without name, date, or address, 
seems to have been drawn up by a person present at the Trial $ 
has the appearance of being a rough copy of what was sent to 



L] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


83 

The principal circumstance remaining to be 
observed in this Reign is,, that the Table which 


some gentleman of consequence, then at a distance from Lon* 
don, and is now to be seen among the MS. in the Cottonian 
Collection at the British Museum, 

“ Sir, 

“ The Processe against my Lord of Northumberland, on 
“ Fryday was sevenight (as all other matters of that nature) 
<c may be divided into two general Heads: 

“ 1. The Crimes objected against him, and 
<c 2. The Punishment imposed. 
ec The Crimes, which, under the name of Contemptes, were 
<c layed to his charge, I mean those whereon, out of his own 
verbal confession, his sentence was grounded, were (besides 
cc many other of less importance) principally Three. 

1 . The first was his employing of Percy a year and a 
(( half before the Queen’s death into Scotland, to procure of 
C{ his Majesty a mitigation for Catholiques, and some tolera- 

tion of their religion : and that the King’s favour in this 
behalfe might be wholly at the disposal of my Lord of 
iC Northumberland, that his Lordship might hold the Catho- 
“ liques in a kind of dependency aud suspense, till his 
Majesty might have peaceable entry and quiet possession. 
ee By which means, said Air. Atturney, he went about to 
derogate from the King's authority, by stealing away the 
“ heartes of his subjectes, and making himself head of the 
“ most factious and traiterous faction in the kingdom. 

“ The second was his making of Percy a Pensioner. 

(i 1. Knowing him to be a jesuitical and turbulent Papist, 

2. Without his Majesty’s privity. 

3. Without giving him the Oth. 

G 2 




84 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Jdme& 

was provided for the Band in the establishment of 
Queen Elizabeth, seems to have been commuted 
for an equivalent in Board Wages: for there is 
the following Order in the Exchequer, signed by 
the King, in the year 1616, for an imprest of 


“ 4. And that under a kind of fraud and treachery; for 
being demanded whether he had sworn Percy, or no ? he 
said he had*. 

The Third was his writing of Letters to his tenants in 
c< the North, without the Kinge’s Licence, during the time of 
“ his restraint $ not for the apprehension of Percy; but 
that they should have a care of his rents, that they might 
<e not come to Percy’s fingers, giving Percy thereby a watch- 
<e word to escape, and so preferring the safety of a little 
<c money before the taking of a capital Traytor; and conse- 
quently before the safety of the King and the whole 
kingdom. 

The censure or punishment was Thirty Thousand 
Pounds fine, the losse of all his offices and dignities 
st growing to him by the King’s favour, and perpetual prison- 
mentf. 


* This was covinous—for I have been informed from the 
most respectable authority, that the Earl permitted Thomas 
Percy, his Lordship’s next brother, to take the Oath, instead 
of Thomas Percy the traitor. 

f* We are told by Sir Bulstrode Whitlocke, [MemonaZs] 
that the Earl felt the severity of his sentence with so much 
indignation, that he was afterwards with difficulty prevailed 
upon to accept his release, when procured at the suit of his- 
son-in-law, the Lord Viscount Doncaster, saying, that“ nothing 
of stain upon his honour could be made out, “ as to the busi¬ 
ness of the Gunpowder Treason.”, The Decree of the Court of 
Star-Chamber may be seen at large in the Harleian MS. 






I ] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 85 

Six Thousand Pounds for Wages and Board 
Wages then due to the Officers and the Band. 

“ James R. 

i 

“ James, by the Grace of God, &c. To the 
u Treasurer and Under-Treasurer of our Ex- 
<f chequer, greeting. Whereas Wee are pleased, 
“ out of our gracious and princely disposition 
“ to make an encrease of the wages and allow- 
** ances of the Captain, Lieutenant, Standard 
<c Bearer, Clark of the Cheque, Gentlemen Pen- 
u coners, Gentlemen at Armes, and Harbinger, 
(C for the better enabling them to attend upon 
u us, in our service, the same not to exceed in 
any one year the sum of Six Thousand Pounds; 
“ This shal be therefore to will and commaund 
“ you of such our Treasure as from tyme to 
“ tyme shall be and remayne in the receipte of 
our said Exchequer, to cause payment to be 
“ made, from tyme to tyme, unto Sir Henry 
4C Mynn, Knt. now Paymaster of the said Band, 
^ and to the Paymaster hereafter for the tyme 
“ being, of all suche some and sommes of money 
n as shall appeare to be due unto them the said 


* 

86 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF \JanieS 

u Captaine, Lieutenant, and the rest of the Of-? 
tc ficers and Band respectively, upon Quarterly 
u Rolles, subscribed by the said Captaine, or 
(( in his absence by the Lieutenant, or in the 
“ absence of them by the hand of the Standard 
€C Bearer, and Clark of the Checque for the tyme 
“ being, to whome any Wages or Board Wages 
“ shal be due, and how muche everie of them 
u (his Cheque defalked to our Use) ought to 
u receive of the same, the first payment thereof 

'x • \ 

“ to begin and take place from the tyme of their 
u last payment, and so to continue Quarterly 
“ during our pleasure. To be taken, had, and 
ce received, to the said Paymaster, respectively, 
“ without any account, imprest or other charge 
“ to be set upon him or them for the same, or 
“ for anie parte thereof. And theis our Letters, 
“ &c. Given, &c. 

“ By Order of Mr. Secretary Lake. 

1616. 

“ Expedit apud Bletsoe, Vicesimo Quarto die 
“ Juiii, Anno Regis Jacobi Decimo Quarto. 

“ P. Windebank. w 





I.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 81 

v . ' i , 

*' 

This arrangement does not seem to have tafcen 

\ 

place till within a very short time before the date 

i * f" 

of the Order, as it there carries the appearance of 
a new regulation, and is called an encrease of 
Wages and Allowances to the whole Band; and 
further directs, that for the future those stipulated 
payments should be made quarterly. 

In this reign a Paymaster peculiarly appro¬ 
priated to the Band is first mentioned. Thitherto 
they had been paid at some of the Publick Offices, 
in common with the rest of the Royal Household. 
It was most probably on occasion of the compo¬ 
sition just mentioned, wherein Wages and Board 
W^ges were thus consolidated, that a particular 
Paymaster was appointed. The very words of 
King James’s Warrant are of themselves sufficient 
to ascertain this fact, which are, that payment be 
made from time to time, “ unto Sir Henry Mynn, 
u Knt. noy Paymaster of the said Band, and to 
“ the Paymaster hereafter for the time being, &c.” 

In all the former establishments no Paymaster 
appears : but in that of the year 1615, Sir Henry 
Mynn is specified to have had the office, in which 
he is likewise found in the years 1616 and 1617% 

t • 


/ 


88 


the honourable BAtoD of [Charles 

I 

The salary annexed to this appointment* in the 
year 1615* appears to have been 100 marks—but 

in the two following years to have been only £50. 

/ ■ 

Notwithstanding the small emolument it is clear* 
that the post was not beneath the acceptance of 
persons of rank* for in the following reign (anno 
1635) it appears that it was then enjoyed likewise 
by a Knight* viz. Sir John Hales. 

The Paymaster had no salary allotted to him 
for some years afterwards; and there is reason to 
suppose that he was remunerated by a per- 
• centage.^ 

The Salary of the Clerk of the Cheque was at 
the close of this reign only one hundred marks 
or £66 :13s : 4d. i 


\ 



The reign of King Charles I. gives us but now 

and then a momentary view of the Band. The 

* 

number was fifty* according to the account given 
by Mons. la Serre* who saw them on duty in the 


* Vide pages 266—7. 





I.J GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 89 

year 1637, when Mary de Medicis, the Queen's 

Mother, came into England to visit her daughter, 

\ 

our Queen Henrietta. He compares them with 
the Gens d’Amies of France, and adds, that each 
Pensioner had three Horses well caparisoned. 
The Captain of the Band was then William Cecil 
[the second] Earl of Salisbury, who, together 
with the Earl of Morton, Captain of the Yeomen, 
supported Mons. de la Masure, the Lieutenant of 
the French Queen’s Garde du Corps. 

On the triumphal entry of the King into the 
City of London, after his return from Scotland in 
1641, His Majesty was escorted, among other the 
royal attendants, by “ The Earl of Salisbury, 
Captain of the Pensioners, followed by the 
u Gentlemen Pensioners, with their Pole-Axes, 
€e all mounted, with Pistols at their Saddles. 
9f And at dinner, in the West part of the Hall 
“ (Guild-Hall) below the Gate on the South 
“ side, was a long table placed for His Majesty’s 
u Pensioners"'.” 

f 

* Lord Somers's Tracts. 

Anciently, when revels were kept during Christmas, 
at the Court, the same festivities were observed in the 




/ 


90 the honourable band of [ Charles 

The next notice of the Band is upon a very 
different occasion : viz. when the King found it 


principal Law Societies. On these occasions there was 
.elected from the Gentlemen of the Society one who was 
styled the Christmas-Prince, who had his Great Officers 
and Guards about him, and among the rest his Pensioners. 
It may not be amiss to transcribe the account given of the 

Establishment and Retinue of the Christmas-Prince in 1635, 

•0 

as it is a reference to the above subject from a letter written 
at that time by the Reverend George Garrard to the Earl of 
Strafforde, then Lord Deputy of Ireland. “ The Middle- 
€e Temple-House,” says he , ,f have set up a Prince who carries 
ee himself in great state, he hath all his Great Officers 
attending him — Lord Keeper, Lord Treasurer, Eight 
ce White Staves at least. Captain of his Pensioners, Captain of 
his Guard, and two Chaplains, who on Sunday last preached 
before him. My Lord Chamberlain lent him two fair 
* f Cloths of Estate, one hung up in the Hall, under which 
gf he dined, the other in his Privy-Chamber: he his served 
* e on the knee, and all that come to see him kiss his hand on 
ft their knee.' My Lord of Salisbury hath lent him Pole-Axes 
€C for his Pensioners. He sent to my Lord of Holland, his 
“ Justice in Eyre, for Venison, which he willingly sends him ; 
g( to the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London for Wine, all 
“ obey. Twelfth-dav was a great day : going to the Chapel 
many Petitions were delivered to him, which he gave to his 
te Masters of the Requests. He hath a favourite, whom, with 
te some others. Gentlemen of great Quality, he knighteh, at 
te his return from Church, and dined in great State. It costs 
<f this Prince *£2000 out of his own Purse.” Strafford's 
Letters . 





1 



L] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 91 

/ 

necessary to take refuge at Oxford in the year 

1642. 

A seditious Preacher had thrown out some 
words from the Pulpit, which so alarmed the 
King and his Council, that it was not thought 
safe to trust his Majesty’s Person any where 
without an extraordinary guard. It was there¬ 
fore commanded by his Majesty, with advice of 
the Council, among other securities, u That as 
iC often as his Majesty did ride abroad, the 
“ Captain of his Majesty’s Guard [the Yeo- 

men] and the Lieutenant of his Pensioners, 
“ with Four of the Gentlemen Pensioners, 
u should ride continually near his Majesty’s 
“ person, and suffer none of mean condition, or 
“ unknown to them, to come near his Majesty.” 
The suspicions ran that assassination was intended 

as that which dropped from the Preacher was 

/ 

similar to what was recollected to have been 
insinuated to the public by the same channel, 
previous to the murder of the Duke of Bucking¬ 
ham by Felton. The Pensioners are again men¬ 
tioned as part of the escort of the Queen, when 
she made her entry into Oxford in the same year. 


$£ THE HONOURABLE BAND OF \_CharleS 

S’ 

After that period the King’s difficulties daily 
increased, his State gradually diminished, and 
his person fell into the keeping of those who 
guarded it for a very different purpose. 

The following Ordinances for the government 
of the Band made in 1633 though they seem 
rigid will be found characteristic of the Reign of 
King Charles I. and will confirm an observation 
of Lord Clarendon, who tells us, that the King 
fe kept State to the full, which made his Court 
fC very orderly ; no man presuming to be seen in 
u a place where he had no pretence to be.” 

Orders of King Charles I.—1633. 

“ I. The Band of our Pensioners having the 
u honour to be our nearest Guard, and to have 
their daily access into our Presence Chamber, 
ce We think fit and ordain, that from henceforth 
“ they be freely chosen by our knowledge, out 
“ of our best Families, and such as have best 
“ education in several counties of our kingdoms, 

<<r that all our loving subjects of best rank and 
u worth may find themselves interested in the 
■ c trust and honour of our Service. 


I.j GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. OS 

<c II. And as many of our Gentlemen Pen-’ 
“ sioners as are, or shall be hereafter admitted, 
“ and not licensed to be absent by Us or their 
“ Captain, or in his absence by the Lieutenant 
“ or Standard Bearer of the Band, shall be in 
sc our Chamber of Presence every Festival-day, 
“ Holy-day, or Sermon-day, by Nine of the 
“ clock in the forenoon, and every Working-day 
“ by Ten of the clock, and shall there give 
“ attendance with their Axes, ready to know 
“ what shall be commanded them by Us, or 
“ their said Captain, Lieutenant* or Standard 
u Bearer. 

“ III. They shall not fail to bear their Axes 5 * 
“ and to give attendance on Us every such day 
“ as we shall come abroad to Morning-Prayer, 
“ and from the same, and to and from Evening- 
“ Prayer, in the Great Closet, and shall keep the 
“ Place where We passe to and fro, as the large- 
£< ness of the roome shall serve. 

“ IV. In our Progresse, or other Remove when 
“ we ride, they shall keep such places as to them 
cc shall be appointed by Us, or by the aforesaid 
“ Officers* 


91 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [_Charte$ 

u V. They shall at all times be obedient, and 

“ performe all such services as shall appertaine 

* 

unto Us, and wherein We ought to be served 
c( b}^ them, as well in Chambers as in ail other 
£C places where our pleasure shall be to be served, 
“ by the commandment of such as shall for the 
u time have authority to command and appoint 
the said Gentlemen Pensioners, and all other 
our servants. 

“ VI. If any of them fail their duties of ap- 
pearance at their days in the place and hours 
w before-mentioned, they shall be checkt for the 
first fault with the losse of Three Days Wages, 
for the second with the losse of Six, and the 

i 

* e third of Fifteen. - 

“ VII. In the like manner they shall be checkt 

v 

“ if they fail their attendance in the day of our 
46 remove, as well at the taking of our Horse, 
u as at our lighting, or when we go to or from 
“ the Chapel, at Evening or Morning-Prayers. 

VIII. ee The said Gentlemen Pensioners shall, 

\ 

“ every of them have his Axe borne after him 
cs by a sufficient Man, said Axe being cleane 
“ and bright, as well in all places out of Court 


I.j GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 95 

4 

tf * as within* unto such place where every such 
“ Gentleman Pensioner ought to bear it himself, 
upon pain of our displeasure. 

“ IX. Whereas* by Institution and antient 
“ Order every Gentleman Pensioner was allowed 
“ but Three Months Liberty in the Year of not 

“ waiting, and that by the appointment of the 

• 

“ King, their Captain* Lieutenant* or Standard 
u Bearer ; and so as ere they departed the Court 
fC they should give notice to the Clerk of the 
cc Cheque* or his Deputy* of the time of their 
ee Licence* with return of the same* or else the 
“ said Licence to be void* and they to be checkt 
e( for their absence—which Order afterward our 
ff<- Predecessor [Henry VIII.] at the humble sute 
“ of Sir Anthony Browne* their Captain enlarged 
(< by Quarter-Waiting by course* yet so as the 
6C one half of the Band was required continually 
“ to attend* withoute any excuse of sickness or 
“ otherwise* but that he or they that did fortune 
“ to be sick or have any other lete within his 
“ Quarter should* for the time of absence* find 

“ one* his Companion* that was out of his Quar- 

% 

“ ter* to wait and furnish his place* or else to be 


96 the honourable band of [ Charles 

“ in danger of the Checke; and the other half 
* c of them for the mean time of their Half-year, 
“ so by their Quarters to be taken at liberty. 

« X. This Order thus enlarged to a Quar- 
ec terly-attendance, with the conditions thereof, 
“ we ratifie and confirm :—Notwithstanding any 
(C Licence given to any of the said Gentlemen 
cc Pensioners by Us ; the Captain, Lieutenant, 
“ or Standard Bearer shall always foresee that 
“ there be not absent at any time above half the 
“ Band. 

“ XI. The said Gentlemen Pensioners were 
iC also required by their Institution to be well 
“ and sufficiently furnished and provided every 
“ one with his Two Great Horses for himself 

i 

“ and his servant, according to his Oath, with 
“ his Arms and all other Habiliments to the same 
“ appertaining, to be ready therewith within two 
(C days warning given to them by their Captain, 
u Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer upon payne 
<c of forfeiture of Ten days Wages for their first 

default, and for the second default to forfeit a 
a Month’s Wages, and for the third to be clearly 
f( expelled and put out of the roome of a Gen- 


I*j gentlemen pensioners. 97 

i 

* { tleman Pensioner, and to loose his whole Quar- 
“ ter s Wages. Which proportion of Two Great 
“ Horses was then, in regard of the liberty 
“ granted of Quarter-Wayting, increased to the 
“ finding of Three Great Horses furnished ac- 
“ cordingly;—and this number, the rather for 
the late encrease of pay, We require to be 
“ furnished by every Gentleman Pensioner for 
“ our service in their places upon the penalty 
<c above-named. 

<- 

u XII. The whole Band of Gentlemen Pen- 
“ sioners shall give their attendance at the Four 
“ principal Feasts of the Year, viz. Christmas, 
“ Easter, Witsontide, and Allhallontide, and at 
“ Saint George’s Feast, and at our Coronation^ 
“ Day, under the Cheque as they do now. 

“ XIII. And notwithstanding the great liberty 
“ of their Quarter-waiting, they are required 
“ neverthelesse to be at all times in such readi- 
“ nesse that when warning shall be given them 
“ from their Officers, they and every of them 
“ shall, according to the same, repair to the 
u Court, and give such attendance for the time 
u as shall be appointed unto them, using for that 

H 


I 


98 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Charles 

, ■ < , 1 

“ season, be it in their Quarter or otherwise, no 
44 less deligence than in their Quarter they ought 
“ to doe. 

“ XIV. The Clark of Checke, or such his De- 
44 puty as shall he thought fit and sufficient by 
cc the Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer 
44 to admit, shall be every day in the Chamber 
44 of Presence at nine o’clocke in the forenoon, 
44 there to receive the appearance of the said 
44 Gentlemen Pensioners. And also the Clark, 
44 or his Deputy, shall be at all other places 
44 where the said Gentlemen Pensioners shall 
44 be appointed to give their attendance for our 
“ service. 

44 XV. The accustomed Oath shall be taken 
44 by every Gentleman Pensioner at his admis- 
(C sion. 

“ XVI. They shall be mustered every Quarter 
44 or Monthly, by their Captain, Lieutenant, or 
44 Standard Bearer 

Additional Orders were also issued on the 
22nd November 1633, by Theophilus Earl of 
Suffolk, Captain; Lord George Goring, Lieu¬ 
tenant; Sir Edward Capell, Kuight, Standard 


99 


I ] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 

Bearer; and, with the former, are extracted from 
the Order Book 

“ I. The Gentlemen Pensioners that waited 
u on His Majesty into Scotland, that were 

■ i* \ c 

“ out of Quarter, shall have such pay in 
u lieu of their Service in that Journey as those 
“ Gentlemen had that attended King James of 
t( ever blessed memory in His Majesty’s Journey 
“ in the like kind. 

“ II. That the Gentlemen Pensioners shall 
u give their attendance on His Majesty’s said 
“ Service at St. George’s Feast, and at all other 
“ Festival-days, whether in Quarter or out of 
u Quarter, as they shall be commanded by the 
u Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer, as 
“ by former Orders have been directed.” 

The following Minutes made by Thomas 
Stapley, Esq. Clerk of the Cheque in the reign 

" * The Book from which the above, and other Extracts, are 
made is called the Orderly Book of the Band, and kept by the 
Clerk of the Cheque for the time being. It contains a variety of 
Extracts and Orders issued from time to time, the whole of which 
appears to be a mere transcript from 1509 to 28th August 
1751. Since which period the respective Entries appear to 
have been made as they have occurred. 


> 

> ) i 


1 


> , * 


» 



1 


100 the honourable band of [Charles 

N 

of Charles I. and dated 19th June 1633, are 
still extant. 

u The Captain of the said Band of Gentlemen 
ec Pensioners never used to take any Oath, for he 

u knew several Captains of the said Band, viz, 

\ 

“ Henry Lord Hunsdon, George Lord Hunsdon, 
“ the Earl of Northumberland, Thomas Earl of 
u Suffolk, and Theophilus Lord Waldon ; yet 
u he neither heard nor knew that either of the 
“ said Captains were sworn, but their manner 
“ was when the Queen or King gave them the 
“ place of Captain, to send for the Clerk of the 
“ Cheque and call for a Roll; and such of the 
<c Band as were in Quarter to acquaint them with 
“ the King’s pleasure to make him Captain:— 
“ whereupon the next Sunday following, such of 
u the Gentlemen as were in town attended the 
u Captain from his lodging to the Presence 
“ Chamber, whereby notice was taken that the 
“ King had bestowed the place upon him. 

“ The Lieutenant, Standard Bearer, the Gen- 
u tlemen Pensioners, and Gentleman Harbinger, 
(e are to be sworn by the Clerk of the Cheque; 

(C and it was so ordered by the Lords in the High 


/ 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


101 


I] 

Court of Star Chamber, that they should not 
“ be sworn by any other, in the case of my Lord 
“ of Northumberland being questioned about the 
“ swearing of Thomas Percy, who was in the 
Powder Plot. 

“ The Clerk of the Cheque is to be sworn either 
tc by the Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer. 
“ The Gentleman Harbinger who hath from 
the King twelve-pence per diem for waiting 

“ instead of the Clerk of the Cheque; and as his 

/ 

deputy hath both in the vacancy and absence 
“ of the Clerk of the Cheque sworn the Gen- 
cc tlemen Pensioners, and he (Stapley) did it when 
“ he was Gentleman Harbinger. 

u The Clerk of the Cheque’s warrant ever went 
* c to the wardrobe for mourning for the King or 
“ Queen, and likewise for their liveries against 
£e the coronation. The Lieutenant, Standard 
“ Bearer, Clerk of the Cheque, Gentlemen Pen- 
“ sioners, and Gentleman Harbinger, had for 
“ mourning for themselves a cloak and a gown, 
sc and cloaks for two servants. At a mourning 
€t their axes were covered with black. 

“ It is in the power of the Clerk of the Cheque, 



/ 


I 


102 the honourable band of [ Charles 

u either upon death or exchange of any Gentlc- 
u man Pensioner, to put him that cometh in into 
cc what quarter he shall think lit. 

“ The Clerk of the Cheque, when the Captain 
“ is petitioned against any Gentleman Pensioner, 
“ ever used to be directed by the Captain to speak 
c: with the Gentleman Pensioner, and to certify 
him of the state of the case. 
u When the King feasteth any Ambassador in 
“ publick, the Gentlemen Pensioners used to 

“ carry up the meat to the King’s table. 

% v 

“ When the Kins goes from Whitehall to be 

o o 

u crowned, the Gentlemen Pensioners do not 

% < 

(( then ride, but go on foot with their axes. 

“ The King used when there was room to go 
“ in the middle of the Gentlemen Pensioners, 
<c half of the one side of the King and as many 
“ of the other. The Band of Gentlemen Pen- 
“ sioners were formerly paid by the Cofferer of 
“ the Household, in the reigns of King Henry 
c<r VIII. Edward VI. and Queen Mary; but since 
“ out of the Exchequer. 

“ When the King dyeth his successors sendeth 
“ his warrant for settling the Band; then the 


1 


i 


I.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 103 

Clerk of the Cheque., in the presence of the 
te Captain, sweareth the Lieutenant or Standard 
Bearer, and one of them sweareth the Clerk of 
“ the Cheque, and then he sweareth the Gen- 
tlemen Pensioners, who are to pay fees for the 
“ same.” 

* . \ : t , v r 

——gn aacgaBBaa 

I 

During the Protectorate, we cannot suppose 
that Cromwell would in any degree retain the 
identical Guard which had thitherto been the 
appendage to the person of a King, deeming 
them of course inimical to his interests; though 
the Usurper himself adopted a similar Establish¬ 
ment. Whether the Royal Band of Pensioners 
was dismissed in form, or turned out of doors 
(like the Parliament) is not ascertained. There 
is, as one would imagine, a chasm in the Books 
of the Council Office, from the death of King 
Charles I. to the Restoration, and Thurloe s State 

t 1 

Papers do not go on to such minutiae. Oliver 
was far from being regardless of his persona! 
safety—on the contrary, he was extremely jeai ms 
of everybody, not known to him, and at-dl urnes 



104 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ Oliver 

kept a vigilant e} r e to his security. Roger Coke 
tells us, “ he never stirred abroad without strong 
46 Guards, wearing armour under his clothes, 
44 and offensive arms too, never came back the 

44 common road, or the same way he went, and 

' ' ' / 

44 always passing with great speed ; had many 
66 locks and keys for the doors of his Houses ; 

“ seldom slept above three nights in one chamber, 

1 * ** / / 

4C nor in any which had not two or three back 
44 doors, and Guards at all of them.” It is 
evident, from the circumstance of Oliver’s fall 
from the coach box, in Hyde Park, that he then 
had pistols about him, notwithstanding his Guards 
were at hand, for one of the pistols, by the force 
of the fall, w f entoff* in his pocket.* 

. * j \ 

* The story of Oliver driving his coach with six unruly 
horses, may seem, when simply told, to have been merely a 
frolick j but Dr. Bates, in his Elenchus , p. 299, gives a 
medical reason for it. r * The Protector,” he says, “ was 
t( much troubled with the Stone and Gravel, and that he used 
<e to drink plentifully of small diuretic liquors, and afterwards 
“ by violent exercise on horseback, or by the jolting of a 

** carriage, provoked a discharge of what was offensive in his 
<c bladder or kidneys.” He would ride hard, we are told, 
even in his promenades h cheval, and on the above occasion 
seems to have chosen the coach box, as he there would feel 
more of the motion of the carriage than he did within it. 


( 




I 


Cromwell.^ gentlemen pensioners. 105 

The Protector, in the height of his popularity, 

seems to have had when collectively taken, a 

# 

respectable Body Guard of 140 Horse. Forty of 
these were originally his Garde du Corps, the rest 
seeming to have been reserved for occasions of 
State; or defence if required. This escort of forty 
was afterwards reduced to twenty, to be in constant 
attendance; at which time, by the diminution of 
his guard, one is led to suppose that Cromwell 
felt himself secure in the hearts of the army and 
people, in which he was very soon afterwards 
happily mistaken. These twenty Gentlemen, we 
may assimilate to the Pensioners (for such indeed 
they were styled) and the rest of the troop 
seem not to have been of inferior condition. 
The letter of the Dutch Ambassador (Nieuport) 
to the States General is the authority for this 
account. 

* 

16 High and Mighty Lords, 

/ 

“ My Lords, a few days since the Life Guard 

of Horse of the Lord Protector, which formerly 

% « 

“ consisted of Forty persons most young Gentle- 
ig men of this nation, was reformed after such a 


» 




106 THE HON OUR ABE BAND OF [ Oliver 

\ 

“ manner, that Twenty* of them are to be 

i 

iC employed as Ordinary Pensioners, who are to 
“ wait continually upon the person of his High- 
“ ness, &c. 

“ Dated Westminster, 

“ Mar. 10, 1656.” 

i > 

As to the appearance of these guards, we find 
them thus described in an intercepted letter of 
the 4th of April, 1656, very soon after the above 
mentioned reform. “ Munday last,” says the 
writer, “ the Life Guards mustered in Tuttle- 
t( fields; they are the best Horse and properest 
“ Fellowes I have seene.” 

Towards the close of his life, however, the 

» 

Protector seems to have fallen off in his State, 
and having sunk much in the good opinion of the 
army, was forced to take up with a very mean 
and unprincely escort. Thus, if we may credit 

S " 


* The other Twenty, the letter adds, were joined to the 
100 elected Horse, out of all the Regiments, so that the Life 
Guards of Horse itself (exclusive of the above mentioned 
Pensioners) consisted of 120 men, besides the Captain and 
Four Lieutenants. 



CromwelL J gentlemen pensioners. 107 

Roger Coke (who seems to spare neither Kings 
nor Demi-Kings) he tells us, “ that Cromwell 
i( having so little dependence on his army, set 
<c up another of Volunteers, to have Eight 

Pounds a year a-piece, to be ready to serve 
** him. These were a company of fellows who, 
“ as their pay was little, so were their horses 
(X jades, and lean. A Troop of the Army Horse 
<c would beat ten of them, yet they served 
u Cromwell so far as to seize malignants when- 
* ( ever he sent them, and where spies over all 

suspected persons, and to inform him of their 
“ demeanour.” 

The confidence of the army had been Crom¬ 
well’s sheet anchor, and terror his rule of 
Government, both at home and abroad :—when 
the former was lost, his power began to dissolve 
apace, and we have an opportunity of observing 
from the last account of his Body Guard, that 
the Protector himself was then in want of pro- 

i 1 

tection, being as much deserted by his former 
adherents from principles of abhorrence, as the 
King had been by his friends from fears of im¬ 
pending anarchy and desolation. 


the honourable band of j Charles 



At the Restoration, upon King Charles the 
Second’s public Entry, such of his late Majesty’s 
Pensioners as were living voluntarily attended 
(though not then re-established) deeming them¬ 
selves, rather suspended than disbanded. They 
were regularly embodied very soon afterwards, 
and resumed their functions ; for in July follow^ 
ing, when the King dined at Guildhall, the 
Band went on foot on each side of his Majesty’s 
Coach under the command of their Captain' 
(Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Cleveland) with 
Pistols in their hands. # In the Processions, 
from the Tower to Westminster on the day before 
the Coronation, and on the Coronation-day in 
1661, thev are found in their usual situations. 

J J 

There had been, indeed, a great retrenchment 
early in the year 1668, which, though attended 
with changes in several parts of the Royal Esta- 


* This manner of their being armed is rather singular 5 but 
it agrees with that of the year 1641, and comes on the 
authority of an eyewitness.— Heath's Account of the Triumph * 
at the Restoration, London 1662. 




II.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 109 

blishment, did not affect the Band, for they are 
comprehended in one general clause of exception, 
the intention of the reform being, as it was 
declared, only to cut off ail supernumerary places, 
€t other than what were in the time of his late 
u Majesty, of blessed Memory/’ On the other 
hand, the pay of the Officers and Gentlemen was 
confirmed at its present allowance in 1670. 

By reference to the Order Book of the Ho¬ 
nourable Band it appears that they were reduced 
from Fifty to Forty (at which number it has ever 
since continued) by King Charles II. in 1670 z 
which is ascertained by the following Declaration 
issued in that vear. 

“ Charles R. 

“ We have taken notice that some Gentlemen 
“ before our right trusty and well beloved John 
<c Lord Bellasyse was made Captain of our Band 

u of Gentlemen Pensioners have been admitted 

* ' ■ 

“ into the said Band, not qualified as heretofore 

“ for that service, which hath rendered the said 

\ 

“ Band less grateful to Us ;—for the prevention 
“ of the same for the time to come, We do hereby 
“ declare, that the said Band of Pensioners now 


110 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF ' [Charles 

Rfl 

44 consisting of Fifty shall be reduced to Forty 
44 that shall be continued. And that if We shall 
44 think fit to remove any or all of those Forty 
44 that shall be continued, those that shall be so 
44 removed shall receive Half-pay during their 
44 lives respectively, and those that succeed in 
44 the places the other half, and after their deaths 
44 the whole. That if hereafter any Gentleman 
44 of the said Band that quitteth his employment 
44 to any other before the admittance of such 
44 other into the Band, We will that he be first 

44 approved by Us, and since that by this method 

\ | ’ ' \ 

44 the Captain and Officers of our Band will lose 
44 the benefit of all perquisites and other incidental 
44 profits they now enjoy, that of right belong to 
44 their places ; We do hereby further declare, 
44 that in lieu thereof their wages shall be made 
44 equal to the pay of the Officers of the Yeomen 
44 of our Guard, which we will shall be done 
44 without increasing the annual charge of Six 
44 Thousand Pounds, which is the antient wages 
44 and establishment of the whole Band; and 
44 that for the satisfaction of the Ten for their 
44 places, who quite leave the Band, the remain- 


II J GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. Hi 

f 

“ ing Forty, and the Officers, shall contribute 

N 

“ out of their first year s Wages, which shall be 

\ • 

“ paid according to this new Establishment the 
“ sum of £1,500; and that We will order the 
payment of their arrears to the said Ten in 
“ the first place, and the arrears remaining due 
ee to the Band so soon ass conveniently We may. 

9 

According to which Declaration We will that 

“ the several Wages be as follow:—£1000 to the 

/ 

“ Captain ; £500 to the Lieutenant; £310 to 
“ the Standard Bearer; £4000 to the Forty 
u Gentlemen; £120 to the Clerk of the Cheque; 
u and £70 to theGentlemanHarbinger.* Lastly, 
“ We do hereby declare. That their Habits and 
u Arms shall be such as we shall appoint. 

a Given under our Signet and Sign Manual, 
“ at our Court at Whitehall, the 17th day 
“ of March, 1670. 

i 

“ By his Majesty’s Command, 

<c Arlington.” 

* Since which period no augmentation or alteration has 
taken place, notwithstanding the alteration of the times. This 
is probably the only branch of the Royal Household whose 
remuneration has not been progressive with its necessities. 

N 

\ 




/ 


112 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ Charles 

Lord Bellasyse, the Captain, transmitted to 
Thomas Winn, Esq. the Clerk of the Cheque, 

on the 22nd April 1671, the following Letter— 

\ 

enclosing an Order, dated 18th March 1670., 
from Charles II. for carrying into effect the 
before recited Order. 

“ Sir, 

“ I have herein sent you inclosed a Copy of an 
i( Order* directed to me by his Majesty, which 


* <e Charles R. 

Whereas we have thought fit to reduce our Band of Pen- 
“ sioners, consisting of Fifty, to the number of Forty j and 
from henceforth to reserve to our Self the gift of the said 
“ places. And if any Gentleman shall hereafter part with liis 
“ place to any other person, we do approve of such person 
“ before his admittance into our said Band: Our will and 
<( pleasure therefore is, that the Forty that shall serve in the 
<c said Band shall be these hereafter named, viz. JohnDingley, 
“ Edward Herbert, Thomas Hales, Esq. Sir Thomas Roe, 
Edward Brooke, Esq. Reynold Forster, Richard Harrison, 
John Root, Esq. Sir Richard Hatton, William Tase, Esq. 
“ Edward Alston, Charles Skrimshire, William Cooper, Esq, 
t€ Sir George Tass, Charles Crompton, John Raymond, Esq. 

Sir Edmund Barker, Anthony Guady, Fleetwood Dormer, 
“ Brett Norton, William Dickinson, Hugh Tent, Esq. John 
“ Kirk, sen. Sir Thomas Gery, Walter Ren, William Foord, 
° Edward Games, John Kirk, jun. Richard Wigmore, Robert 
Dacres, Charles Radley, Thomas Thatterdine, Richard 





II.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 113 

, ‘ ' fc. • 

“ I desire you to communicate to the Gentlemen 
“ with convenient speed. In the Order may be 
“ observed how careful his Majesty is not in the 
44 least to reflect any dishonour upon any Gen- 


‘ ‘ Wills, Edward Coop, Henry Slingsby, Sir Philip Long- 
et wood, Edward Colman, Esq. Sir George Courthop, Roger 
tc Conisby, Esq. Sir Philip Honywood, and Thomas Sheldon, 
(< Gentleman. And our further will and pleasure is, that the 
<e said Forty shall receive their annuity wages of one hundred 
“ pounds per annum, respectively ; in consideration whereof 
wc do expect that they, together with all the Officers of our 
“ said Band, shall contribute fifteen hundred pounds for the 
satisfaction of the said ten that are to leave the Band, 
“ according to the proportion of their several wages : the 
“ said fifteen hundred pounds to be detained by the Paymaster 
** out of the first year’s wages that they shall be paid, accord- 
“ ing to this establishment • and by him to be issued quarterly 
** or half-yearly, as it shall be received, without Fees. And 
“ we have ordered the payment of the arrears of the said ten 

“ in the first place, and the arrears remaining due to the Band 

» 

“ so soon as conveniently we may; which we have thought 
“ good to signify unto you, to the end you may take order for 
“ the effectual putting in execution our pleasure herein 
(< declared accordingly, for which this shall be your warrant. 
“ Given at our Court at Whitehall, the 18th day of March, 
*f 1670, and in the 23rd year of our reign. 

“ By his Majesty’s command, 

Arlington.” 

“ To our right trusty and well beloved 
“ John Lord Bellasyse, our Captain 
“ of our Band of Pensioners.” 

V I ' 


/ 




114 the honourable band or * [Charles 

“ tleman whose fate it is to leave the Band, 
“ refusing even to name them except in general 

N 

“ terms, nor is he less careful to provide them a 
“ recompence for their places, to be paid by the 
“ Officers and those Gentlemen that continue in 
“ the service, in which he expects from the said 
“ Officers and Gentlemen a ready compliance : 
“ he is solicitous not only that their arrears 
u should be paid, but in the first place. 

ee And whereas the Order is indeed a Dissolu- 
“ tion of the Old Band, even the foundations of 
“ it being changed ; the choice and approbation 
“ of Gentlemen hereafter to be admitted being 
“ now solely in the King, and no more in the 
“ Captain ; yet his Majesty is pleased to call it a 
“ reducement, to the end he may continue those 
iC privileges to those Gentlemen during their 
ec lives that formerly they enjoyed, they submit* 
“ ting to this present Order:—so I remain 

“ Your ever loving friend, 

“ Jo. Bellasyse.” 

“ For Thomas Winn, Esq. 
se Clerk of the Cheque. 

“ These.” 


\ 


II.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 115 

By the preceding Orders the King resumed to 
himself the appointment of the whole Band, which 
previously had been lodged with the Captain; 
but in the year 1677 the following Declaration 
by His Majesty Charles II. invests the then 
Captain (the Earl of Roscommon) with the like 
power as his predecessors enjoyed. 

“ Charles R. 

u Whereas application hath been made unto 
us of late by several of our Band of Gentlemen 
Pensioners, about several differences between 
xc them and our trusty and well beloved Cousin 
“ and Counsellor Wentworth, Earl of Roscom- 
“ mon, Captain of our said Band; and having 
“ fully heard that matter by counsel learned on 
“ both sides, have thought fit to declare our 
“ pleasure therein, and do hereby declare it as a 
“ final decision and determination of all the said 

V 

“ differences :—that for the future, neither Cap- 

“ tain nor other officer shall take or receive any 

■ “ / \ 

“ fee or perquisite for the admission of any Gen- 
“ tleman into the said Band. And further, that 
“ the said Gentlemen be not obliged to wear or 

i 2 


I 


116 the honourable band of [Charles 

\ * 

✓ 

“ use any other habit, or give any other livery, 
u than such as they themselves shall think fit: 
“ and in case of sickness or other urgent occa- 
sions, whereby their absence is necessitated, 
“ the Gentlemen of the said Band shall have 
“ liberty to appoint such of their number as they 
“ shall think fit, first acquainting the Captain, 
“ or in his absence the next superior officer, 
“ therewith. And as to other particulars relating 
“ to the discipline and ordering the said Band, 
“ Our pleasure is, that that there be no alteration 
“ of the duties and services of the said Band, 
“ enjoined by the antient constitution and esta- 
“ blishment thereof; only for the present we do 
“ dispense with that part of their oaths that 
£C obliges each Gentleman to have always in 
“ readiness Three Double Horses with their har- 
“ nesses and other habiliments to the same 
“ belonging, until we shall think fit to require 
“ the same. And as a mark of our royal grace 
“ and favour to the said Earl of Roscommon, 
“ and of the sense we have of the constant loyalty 
u of his family to our late Royal Father of 
Blessed Memory, and to our Self, and of their 


i 


II.J GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. li? 

' \ 

“ great sufferings for the same, we are pleased to 
“ restore unto the said Earl of Roscommon the 
“ freedom and power of disposing of such places 
“ of Gentlemen Pensioners as shall be vacant by 
“ death, so long as he shall continue Captain 
of the Rand, which hath been enjoyed by his 
cc predecessors. Captains of the said Band, in as 
“ full and ample manner as they or any of them 
have enjoyed and practiced the same before the 
last establishment in the year 1670. The said 

% * * i 

44 establishment, or any thing therein contained 
“ to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided 
“ always that the said Gentlemen who are to be 
“ chosen and admitted into the said Band, be 
“ brought personally to Us for our approbation, 
66 before their admittance into the said Band:—the 
“ like rule also to be observed when any Gentle- 
“ man of the said Band shall dispose of his place 
to any other person. Given at our Court at 
66 Whitehall, the 6th of April 1677, and the 29th 
year of our reign. 

“ By his Majesty’s command, 

u Henry Coventry.’ 



118 the honourable band of [Charles II. 

I 

By the above Declaration every Gentleman* 
previous to his admission into the Band, should 
be first personally brought to the King for his 
approbation. This privilege it will be seen was 
again unreservedly conferred upon the Captain by 
King James II.* and appears never to have been 
revoked. KingWilliam, in respect to the question 
of Lord Lovelace with the Gentlemen Pensioners, 
confirmed this privilege; reserving only, in future, 
that every Gentleman before his admission should 
be presented to His Majesty for his concurrence. 

The respectability of the Band seems to have 
increased on losing its tarnish, which we have 
been told it received at the Union of the Two 
Crowns; for in a List of the Band in 1672 (ex¬ 
clusive of the Officers) is to be found one Baronet 
and nine Knights.^ 


* Vide p. 122—James II. 

t This fact is ascertained by a List of all the King’s forces, 
(including the Pensioner* and the Yeomen) made and printed 
in 1684. 



James II.] gentlemen pensioners 


119 


King James the Second issued the following 
Orders in 1G84, which differ very materially from 
those of either Kings Charles I. or Charles II. 
Each Gentleman Pensioner is again obliged to 
find Three Great Horses for himself and Two 
Servants, with Arms and other Militarv Habili- 
ments. Eighty Gentlemen at Arms, or Pen¬ 
sioners Extraordinary, are also recognized, each 
of whom was to provide One Great Horse and 
proper Accoutrements. These Orders varying 
so much from any that have preceded, a copy i$ 
inserted. 

“ James R. 

“ I. The Honourable Band of our Gentlemen 
“ Pensioners having the honour to have daily 
“ access into our Presence Chamber, as being our 
“ nearest guard and principal military corps of 
“ our Household; in which Honourable Band our 
i( Royal Father, in his late civil wars, as well as 
“ other princes our predecessors, having found 




I 


120 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [James 

i( great service as well in the guard of their 
“ Royal Persons as that it hath served them as a 
nursery to breed up the nobility and gentry of 
“ the realm in military discipline, and fit them to 
“ be commanders in their wars, and we having 

I 

“ taken notice that several persons have been 
admitted into the said Rand not qualified as 
44 heretofore for that service, which has rendered 
a the said Band less grateful to us, we think fit 
44 and ordain that henceforth none shall be 
44 admitted to be of the Forty Gentlemen Pen- 
44 sioners in ordinary but the sons of noblemen 
44 and gentlemen of blood, or such persons who 
44 by their valour and good conduct in the wars 
44 have distinguished themselves as commission 
44 officers in our forces, and who shall for the 
44 term of six months at the least have served 
44 at their own proper charge as Gentlemen at 
44 Arms, commonly called Gentlemen Pensioners 
44 Extraordinary of the said Band. 

44 II. None that is or shall be a servant, or 

\ 

44 retained to any person or persons of any degree 
44 or condition whatsoever, by oath, livery, badge, 
“ promise or otherwise, but to us only, shall be 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


121 


no 

cc of the Forty Gentlemen Pensioners in ordinary, 
“ or of the Eighty Gentlemen at Arms or Pen- 
<c sioners Extraordinary of the said Band.* * 


Extraordinary Gentlemen Pensioners Oath. 

* <e You shall swear to be a true and faithful subject and 
tc servant unto our Sovereign Lord James the Second, by the 
grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, 
Defender of the Faith, &c. and on Earth Supreme Head 
“ of the Churches of Great Britain and Ireland, you shall 
(( give your attendance in the room of one of his Majesty’s 
Gentlemen Pensioners Extraordinary, you shall be retained 
to no person or persons of any degree or condition by 
ft Oath, Livery, Badge, Promise or otherwise, but only to 
his Majesty without his Special Licence ; you shall not 

* e hereafter hear or know of any thing that shall be hurtful 
“ or prejudicial to his most Royal Person or to his Heirs, 
especially in Treason, but you shall withstand it to the 
f< utmost of your power, and the same with all diligence 
possible reveal and disclose to the Captain of the Band of 
<e Gentlemen Pensioners for the time being, and in his absence 
to some of his Majesty’s Privy Council, or to such as you 
shall know will discover the same to his Grace, over this 
“ you shall be at all times obedient to the Captain of the 
“ Band of Gentlemen Pensioners for the time being, and in 
his absence to the Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer, so the 
(C same be or concern the service of his Majesty, and all 
“ such causes as by way of secrecy and council shall be 
shewed unto you by the King’s Majesty, the Captain, 
“ Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer, you shall keep secret 
“ without discovering the same to any person or persons 
until von shall be thereunto commanded, all this you shall 

v - 








122 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Jame$ 

“ III. If we or the Captain of the said Band 
ce shall think fit to remove any or all of the 
“ Forty Gentlemen Pensioners in Ordinary now 
“ of the Band, those who have bought their 
“ places that shall be so removed shall receive 
“ half pay during their Lives respectively, and 
“ those that succeed in their places the other 
“ half, and after their death the whole* 

“ IV. The Captain of the Band shall have 
“ freedom and power of disposing of all places of 
66 Gentlemen Pensioners in Ordinary, and of all 
Gentlemen Pensioners Extraordinary which 
“ shall at any time become vacant, in as full and 
“ ample manner as any Captains of the Band 
u have enjoyed and practised the same before 
(C the last establishment in the year 1670. The 
said establishment or any thing therein con- 
a tained to the contrary notwithstanding. 

" V. As many of the Gentlemen Pensioners 
u in Ordinary and Gentlemen Pensioners Extra- 

“ well and truly observe and keep and serve the King’s 
<c Majesty in the room of one of his Majesty’s Gentlemen 
(( Pensioners Extraordinary. 

“ So help you God and the Holy contents of this Book.” 


I 




II] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 123 

“ ordinary, as are now or hereafter shall be 
“ admitted of the Band, and not excused bv 
“ their Captain, or in his absence by the Lieu- 

“ tenant or Standard Bearer thereof, shall be in 

\ 

u our Presence Chamber every Festival day or 
“ Sermon day by nine of the clock in the fore- 
noon, and every Working day by ten of the 
6C clock, and shall there give their attendance 
“ with their axes ready to know what shall be 
<s commanded them by us, or their officers. 

cc VI. The said Gentlemen shall not fail to 
“ bear their axes, and to give attendance on us 
“ every such day as we shall go abroad, and 
u when we go to morning prayer and from the 
“ same, and to and from evening prayer. 

“ VII. In our progress or other remove, or 
“ when we ride they shall keep such places as 
“ to them shall be appointed by us, or by their 
u officers. 

“ VIII. They shall at all times be obedient 
u to their officers, and perform all such services 
« as shall appertain unto us, and wherein we 
“ ought to be served by them, as well in our 
“ chamber as in all other places where our 
6e ‘pleasure shall be to be served by them. 


i 


124 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [JdVieS 

u IX. If any of them fail their days, of 
“ appearance, in the places and at the hours 
“ before mentioned, or in the performance of 
u any other part of the duties or services which 
“ by us or their officers they shall at any time be 
“ commanded to perform, every Gentleman 
“ Pensioner in Ordinary so failing, shall be 
“ chequed for the first default with the loss of 
<c three days wages, and for the second default 
iC with the loss of six days wages, and for the 
u third default with the loss of fifteen days 
wages; and every Gentleman Pensioner 
“ Extraordinary so failing, shall for the first 
“ default be obliged to perform double duty, 
u and for the second default to perform treble 
“ duty, and for the third default to be clearly 
“ expulsed and put out of the room of a Gentle- 
“ man Pensioner Extraordinary. 

“ X. The Gentlemen Pensioners in Ordinary 
shall every of them have his axe borne after 
him by a sufficient man, (the said axe being 
“ clean, as well in all places out of our court as 
<c within) unto such place where every such 
“ Gentleman Pensioner ought to bear it himself, 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


125 


II. 


n 

J 


u under penalty of the cheque for every default 
“ as aforesaid. 

“ XI. The said Gentlemen Pensioners in 
“ Ordinary being required, by their institution, 
“ every of them to be well and sufficiently 
provided and furnished with his three great 

“ horses for himself and his servants, with arms 

* 

“ and all other habiliments to the same apper- 
taming ; the performance whereof our late 
“ Brother King Charles the Second was pleased 
“ to dispense with till he should think fit to 
require the same, it is our pleasure, that from 
“ henceforth the Forty Gentlemen Pensioners 
“ in Ordinary, and the Eighty Gentlemen Pen- 
“ sioners Extraordinary, shall each of them be 
« sufficiently furnished and provided with one 
“ Great Horse, with a case of Pistols, a Broad 
“ Sword, an Iron Back, Breast, and Head 
“ piece, with proper furniture and accoutrements 
“ to the same appertaining ; to be ready there- 
<c with within two days warning to be given them 
< c by their Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard 
u Bearer; on failure whereof the Gentlemen 
xc Pensioners in Ordinary to forfeit ten days 


THE HONOURABLE RAND OF [James 

/ 

“ wages for the first default, and for the second 
“ default to forfeit a month’s wages, and for the 
“ third default to be clearly expulsed and put 
“ out of the room of a Gentleman Pensioner in 
“ Ordinary, and to lose his whole quarters wages, 
“ and every Gentleman Pensioner Extraordinary, 
“ who shall fail to be furnished and provided 
“ with Horse and Arms as aforesaid, and to be 
“ ready therewith within two days notice to be 
“ given him by his Captain, Lieutenant, or 
(C Standard Bearer, shall be clearly expulsed and 
“ put out of the room of a Gentleman Pensioner 
“ Extraordinary. 

i 

“ XII. Every Gentleman Pensioner in Ordi- 
u nary shall also sufficiently furnish and provide 
<c himself with three Great Horses, with Pistols, 
“ Swords, Iron Backs, Breasts, and Head 
“ pieces, with proper furniture and accoutrements 
“ to the same appertaining for himself and two 
“ servants, whenever we shall think fit to require 
u the same, to be ready therewith within four- 
“ teen days notice to be given unto them by their 

Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer ; 

“ under penalty for every default, to be chequed 


II.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


127 


^ or expulscd clearly, and put out of the room 
{i of a Gentleman Pensioner as afore-mentioned. 

“ XIII. The whole Band of Pensioners shall 
ce give their attendance at the four principal feasts 
** of the year (that is to say) Christmas, Easter, 
<c Whitsuntide, and all Hollandtide, and at 
“ Saint George’s Feast, and on the anniversary 
u of our Coronation Day, under the penalty of 
* c the cheque. 

“ XIV. Our pleasure is, that the Captain 
and other Officers of the Band do always foresee 
that there shall not be absent, at any one time, 
4C above half the Band, and that the other half, 
“ notwithstanding the grant of liberty for their 
quarter waiting, be at all times in such 
<c readiness, that when warning shall be given 
“ them by their officers, they and every of them 
u shall, according to the same repair to the Court, 
* c and give such attendance for the time as shall 
“ be appointed unto them for that season, as in 
xc their quarter they ought to do. 

“ XV. The Captain of the Band shall have 
xt a due regard that such Gentlemen Pensioners 
46 in Ordinary, and Gentlemen Pensioners Ex- 



/ 


* 

S' 

I \ 

123 the honourable band of [ James 

44 traordinary, whom he shall appoint to do the 
44 duty of Corporals, Sub-Corporals, File-leaders, 
44 and Adjutants to the Band, shall henceforth 
44 always be such of the Gentlemen as shall have 
44 the most knowledge and experience in military 
44 discipline, without having regard to their 
44 seniority of admission into the Band. 

44 XVI. The habits, arms, and clothing of 
44 the Gentlemen Pensioners in Ordinary, and of 
44 the Gentlemen at Arms or Pensioners Extra- 
44 ordinary, shall be such as We or their Captain 
44 shall appoint. 

44 XVII. The Clerk of the Cheque, or such 

i 

44 other his deputy as shall be thought sufficient 
44 by the Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard 
44 Bearer to admit, shall be every day in our 
44 Presence Chamber by nine of the clock in the 
44 forenoon there to receive the appearance of the 
44 said Gentlemen Pensioners, and also the 
44 Clerk of the Cheque, or his Deputy, shall be at 
44 all other places where the said Gentlemen 
44 Pensioners shall be appointed to give their 
44 attendance for our service. 

44 XVIII. The Trumpeters of our Household 


i 


II] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 129 

ie attending on the said Band when they are 
“ under Arms, shall, on every such attendance 
henceforth be mounted upon white Horses. 

“ XIX. The accustomed Oaths shall be taken 
“ by every Gentleman at Arms or Pensioner 
“ Extraordinary, at their admission into the 
(c Band. 

“ XX. The Band shall be mustered, trained, 
ss and exercised in military discipline every 
quarter, or monthly, or as often as the Captain, 
u Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer shall think it 
sC necessary. 

u XXI. The Gentlemen Pensioners in Ordi- 
* e nary, and the Gentlemen at Arms or Pen- 
u sioners Extraordinary of the said Band, shall 
“ be advanced to be Commissioned Officers in 
e£ our Army, preferably to all other persons 
6£ whatsoever. 

Ci Given at our Court at Whitehall, the tenth 
u day of February 1684, in the first Year of 
<( our Reign. 

By His Majesty’s Command. 


x 


v 


ISO THE HONOURABLE BAND OF \JamC& 

The form of the proceedings observed at the 

Coronation of James II. and his Royal Consort 

* 

Queen Mary, having been fully settled and con¬ 
cluded on by His Majesty, the Earl Marshal 

ordered it to be published on Tuesday, April 14, 

\ 

1685,* that all persons concerned therein might 
punctually observe the same in manner follow¬ 
ing ; and upon reference it will be seen that the 
Band have the honour to attend as the immediate 
and only Guard of their Majesties sacred persons. 

Drums—four a-breast. 

To be followed by the Drum Major. 

Trumpets—four a-breast. 

To be folloived by the Serjeant Trumpeter. 

The Six Clerks in Chancery—four and two a-breast. 

The youngest first. 


* This account is extracted from a Avork in the British 
Museum, entitled “ The History of the Coronation of the 
“ Most High Most Mighty and Most Excellent Monarch 
James II. by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, 
ff France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.; and of 
tl His Royal Consort Queen Mary j solemnized in the Col- 
legiate Church of St. Peter, in the City of Westminster, on 
rf Thursday the 23d of April, being the Festival of St. George, 

in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred and 

\ 

s{ Eighty-five f and printed in 1C87 by Francis Sandford, Esq. 
Lancaster Herald of Arms :—wherein is inserted the name of 
every person who was in the procession. 





II.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


131 


Chaplains, having Dignities—four a-breast. 

Aldermen of London—four a-breast. 

The youngest first. 

Masters in Chancery—four a-breast. 

The King’s Serjeants at Law—four a-breast. 

The King’s Solicitor. The King’s Attorney. 

The King’s Two Ancient Serjeants. 

Esquires of the Body — four a-breast. 

Masters of Requests—four a-breast. 

Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber—four a-breast. 

Barons of the Exchequer, and Justices of both Benches, 
in their Order—four a-breast: 


The Lord Chief Baron; 

The Master of the Rolls. 
The Serjeant Porter. 


The Lord Chief Justice of the 
Common Pleas. 

The Lord Chief Justice of the 
King’s Bench. 

The Serjeant of the Vestry. 


The Children of the Chapel — four a-breast. 

The Choir of Westminster—four a-breast. 

The Gentlemen of the Chapel—four a-breast. 

Prebends of Westminster—four a-breast. 

The Master of the Jewel House. 

Knights Privy Counsellors—four a-breast. 

Two Pursuivants of Arms. 

Baronesses—four a-breast. 

The youngest first . 

Barons—four a-breatt. 

The youngest first. 

Bishops, in their Order. 

The youngest first , 

K 2 


Serjeant* at Arms. 


JS2 


\ James 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 

i 

Two Pursuivants of Arms. 

Viscountesses—four a-breast. 

The youngest first. 

Viscounts—four a-breast. 

The youngest first. 

Two Heralds of Arms. 

Countesses—four a-breast. 

The youngest first . 

Earls — four a-breast. 

The youngest first. 

Two Heralds of Arms. 

Marchionesses. 

Marquisses. 

Two Heralds of Arms. 

Duchesses —- four a-breast. 

The youngest first. 

Dukes. v 

The Two Provincial Kings of Arms. 

The Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President of the Council. 
The Lord Treasurer, The Lord Archbishop of York. 

The Lord Keeper. The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Two person* representing the Duke* of Aquitain & Normandy. 

The Queen’s Vice Chamberlain. 

Two Gentlemen Ushers. 

The Queen’s Lord Chamberlain. 

The Queen’s Ivory Rod. 

The Queen’s Sceptre. 

j 

The Queen’s Crown. 



) 


/ 


Serjleants at Arm*. 



II ] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 133 

t 

* . . . 

g THE QUEEN. 

G 

.2 Assisted on either side by a Bishop, under a Canopy 

borne by sixteen Barons of the Cinque Ports. 

c Her Majesty’s Train borne by a Duchess, assisted by 

S Four Earl’s Daughters. 

■§ * * * * § Two Ladies of the Bed Chamber. 

55 

O Two Women. 

/ 0. 

St. Edward’s Staff. The Spurs. St. Edward’s Sceptre. 

The 3d Sword.|| Curtana.J The 2d Sword.§ 


Gentlemen Pensioner . 

* William Thomas, Esq. 

Clerk of the Cheque. 

Jaster Tomson, Esq. 

John Tittcombe, Esq. 

Miles Marsh, Esq. 

Henry Bine, Esq. 

Charnock Heron, Esq. 

Thomas J’anson, Esq. 

Bernard Tanner, Esq. 

Lancelot Lake, Esq. 

Peter Cook, Esq. 

Wliliam Rowley, Esq. 


attending- the Queen. 
f Richard Child, Esq. 

Gentleman Harbinger. 

Ambrose Meares, Esq. 
Thomas Rowe, Esq* 
Thomas Orine, Esq. 
Abraham Duplex, Esq. 
John Cowper, Esq. 
Ambrose Sicombe, Esq. 
Thomas Manning, Esq. 
John Estcourt, Esq. 
Edward Maynard, Esq. 
Christopher Turner, Rsq. 


\ Curtana, or the pointless Sword , representing the Sword 
of Mercy ;"is a broad bright sword, and is the principal of the 
three Swords of Dignity, and is borne naked at the Coronations 
of the Kings or Queens of England. 

§ The 2d Sword, or Sword of Justice to the Spirituality, is 
a pointed sword. 

|| The 3d Sword, or Sword of Justice to the Temporality, 
is a sharp pointed sword. 


f Gentlemen Pensioners, 







134 


the honourable band of [ James 


m 


The Lord Mayor of Garter Gentleman Usher 
S London carrying Principal King of the 

^ the City Mace. of Arms. Black Rod. 


a 


d 

a 

o 


The Lord Great Chamberlain. 


*£? The Earl Marshal of 
England. 


The Sword of 
State. 


The Lord High 
Constable. 


The Sceptre with the 
Dove. 


St. Edward’s 
Crown, 


The Orb wi 
the Cross. 


THE KING. 


Wi 

u< 
o 
d 
© 

• 

g Assisted by the Bishops of Durham and Bath, under the 

^ Canopy, borne by sixteen Barons of the Cinque Ports. 

a 

© 

g 

*> His Majesty’s Train, borne by four Earl’s eldest Sons, 

S assisted by the Master of the Robes. 

O 


Gentlemen Pensioners attending the King. 


*Sir Thomas Kniverton, Bt. 

Thomas Francis, Esq. 

Sir Gerard Fleetwood, Bt. 

Charles Gostwich, Esq. 

George Farington, Esq. 

John Barnard, Esq. 

John West, Esq. 

Abraham Clark, Esq. 

Sir Robert Dacres, Knt. 

Anthony Gawdey, Esq. 

Sir Thomas Bludworth, Kt. 
Standard Bearer . 


fCharles Cludd, Esq. 

Daniel Vivean, Esq. 

Edward Glynne, Esq. 

Edward Courthop, Esq. 

Walter Baker, Esq. 

William Ashton, Esq. 

John Hubert, Esq. 

Roger Connesby, Esq. 

Hugh Tynte, Esq. 

Thomas Hales, Esq. 

Francis Villers, Esq. 
Lieutenant . 


Serjeants at Arms. •£ f Gentlemen Pensioners. 





IIJ 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


135 


Captain of tlic 
Yeomen 
of the Guards. 


The Captain of the 
Horse Guards 
in Waiting. 


Captain of 
the 

Pensioners.* 


A Gentleman of the Bed Chamber. 

Two Grooms of the Bed Chamber. 

i 

The Yeomen of the Guard—four a-breast. 

The Gentlemen Pensioners, in number forty, wearing their. 
Hats, (pursuant to His Majesty’s Order, as being a Military 
Body) being ranged in two files, were in attendance at the 
upper end of Westminster Hall to receive their Majesties, viz. 
ten on each side guarded the Queen j and the other twenty, 
in like manner, guarded the King. 

One circumstance in this reign relating to the 
Bed-chamber is observable, as far as it regards 
the Band, tending to clear up a point of etiquette, 
which has sometimes admitted of a doubt, viz. 
whether the Captain of the Horse-Guards, in 
waiting (now best known by the name of the 
Goldstick) or the Captain of the Band of Pen¬ 
sioners has precedence ? The question has arisen 
from the following words in the Orders of King 


Charles I. (vide p. 92) viz. “ The Band of our 
“ Pensioners bavins: the honour to be our nearest 

O 


“ Guard, &c.” 


* Theophilus Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon, 




I 


136 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [James II. 

There is now extant an extract from Orders of 
K. Ch. II. (1678) which say that “ An Officer 
c < of Our Horse-Guards is always to attend and 
se follow next our person when we walk abroad, 

• 1 -V m 

£C or pass up and down from one place to another, 

cc as well within doors as without, excepting 

\ ' 

cc always our Bed-chamber.” In conformity with 
this last declaration, the Orders of K. James II. 
for the Government of the Bed-chamber of the 
year 1685 say, that “ Whensoever we repair to 
‘ r our Chapel, or elsewhere, or give audience to 
tc an x4mbassador, or other public Minister, out 
(e of the districts of our Bed-chamber, the Cap- 
“ tain of our Horse-Guards in Waiting, the Cap- 
cc tain of Our Pensioners, and the Captain of Our 
“ Yeomen of the Guard shall take his place, and 
u follow next and immediately unto our per- 
u son. # ” This seems to confirm the before-cited 
Ordinance of K. Charles II.; the Captain of the 
Horse-Guards being here first mentioned. 


* This transcript of the Orders for the government of the 
Royal Bed-chamber, was presented to the Museum in 1782 
by Samuel Pegge, Esq. author of the Curalia and manv other 
curious and interesting Works. It is a very fair copy, and was 
bought by him out of the Collection of George Scott, Esq. 



William III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 137 




The JEm of the Revolution, favourable to 
some, and ungenial to others, according to the 
parts they took in the preceding commotions, 
found in the Rand of Pensioners several whose 
former political attachments now militated against 
their interests ; and it is no wonder that in a body 
of Forty Gentlemen of some weight and conse¬ 
quence, at a moment so important both to civil 
and religious liberty, several should be discovered 
whose known inclinations were, secretly at least, 
adverse to the change. 

On the accession of King William, John Lord 
Lovelace, a Nobleman who had not been less 
active against King James than he w r as firm and 
zealous in the cause of the House of Nassau, was 

i 

placed in the command of the Band.* His Lord- 
ship, very soon after he received his appointment. 


* On the landing of the Prince of Orange in 1688 at Torbay, 
Lord Lovelace joined him with Seventy Horse, which, in an 
engagement with the Militia of the County of Gloucester, were 
all taken prisoners,— Collins's Peerage . 




138 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ 'William 

/ 

dislodged some of the Gentlemen, for which he 
gave a manly, loyal, and unequivocal reason, to 
this effect:—that several of those who had been 

n| H 

the Guard to the late King James were not pro¬ 
per to have the care of the person of King William. 
As the Account of this transaction is no where to 
be found but in the Books of the Council-Office, 
the following particulars may be considered 

* . '• i 

desirable. 

“ To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty and the 
“ Right Hon. the Lords of his Majesty’s Most 
Honourable Privy Council. 
u The humble Petition of several of your Ma- 
cc jesty’s Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, and 
“ of William Thomas, Esq. Clerk of the 
“ Cheque and Paymaster to the said Band, 
Sheweth, 

“ That the said Band of Gentlemen Pensioners 

“ was established in the reign of your Majesty’s 

> ■ - > v 

“ Royal Ancestor, King Henry the Seventh,* 

4C as the first guard to his Royal Person, and his 
46 successors, and have ever since accordingly 


* Erroneous, vide p. 2. 



IIL] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 139 

“ been continued from succession to succession ; 
“ and the measure of the Captain’s power over 
“ them is by certain Articles limited, and liberty 
“ allowed, as well to the Clerk of the Cheque as 
<e to every one of the said Band, of disposing of 
their respective places, (reserving the approba- 
tion of such Gentlemen to whom such dispo- 
<c sition should be made, to their Majesties and 
(c their successors,) and never have been amove- 
able at the will of their Captain, and the same 
“ liberty hath been allowed to the Paymaster, 
“ who is a Patent Officer. 

cc And your Majesty’s Petitioners are not con- 
ce scious to themselves of any neglect relating to 
“ the duty of their said places and offices, nor 
hath there ever been any objection made to the 
“ due executing thereof; and your Petitioners 
can truly say they have neither acted nor spoke, 
ce in compliance to the late times, any thing 
“ which might weaken the Protestant Interest, 
cc or injure our Laws; but, on the contrary, 
“ constantly expressed their dissatisfaction to 
“ the measures then taken to the prejudice of 
“ both. 


I 


140 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF f William 

' \ v 

“ Notwithstanding all this, the Right Honour- 
“ able the Lord Lovelace, the present Captain, 
“ hath, without any regard to this ancient 
iC establishment and quality of the Gentlemen 
ec whom he commands, displaced and turned out 
“ more than half of the said Band, and your 
“ Petitioners in particular, 

“ Your Petitioners therefore most humbly 
“ beseech your Majesty, that they may be con- 
66 tinued in their said Places and Offices, not 
u having hitherto misbehaved themselves, and 
“ being most heartily disposed to your Majesty's 
service. 


u And your Petitioners shall ever pray for your 
a Majesty’s long life and happy Reign. 


(Signed) 

• 

» 

ROGER CONINGSBY, 


JOHN DUNCOMBE, 


J. CRIPPS, 


RICHARD SPENCER^ 


ROBERT DACRES, 


ANTHONY GAUDY, 


WILLIAM THOMAS, 

Received April 8, 1689, 

HENRY Y AX LEE, 
SAMUEL ALSTON, 
GEORGE LLUELLINE, 

“ Read May 9, 1689,” 





HI. J GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 141 

In consequence of this Petition, an order was 
made that Lord Lovelace should give in an 
answer to the Council-Board. This may be col¬ 
lected from a case which will appear presently ; 
for the order itself is not entered in the Register 
Books of the Council-Office. Upon his Lord- 
ship’s non-compliance, the discarded Pensioners 
presented a Second Petition (on the 30th of May) 
to the same effect as the former, which produced 
the following order : 

u Order of Council upon the Second Petition 
“ of the Gentlemen Pensioners. 

ie At the Court at Hampton-Court, June 27, 
“ 1689. 

u 

“ Present, 

“ The King’s Most Excellent Majesty. 

€C Whereas the Right Honourable Lord Love^ 
“ lace, Captain of his Majesty’s Band of Gentle- 
“ men Pensioners, was, by order of the Board 
“ of the 9th of May last, desired to return his 
“ answer to a Petition of several Gentlemen Pen- 
tc sioners, and of William Thomas, Esq. Clerk 
u of the Cheque, and Paymaster to the said 


142 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF \WillicMl 

/ 

“ Band, who had lately been removed from their 
€C places, which his Lordship not having hitherto 
(C done ; it was upon another Petition of the said 
“ Pensioners and Paymaster this day ordered by 
“ His Majesty in Council, that the said Lord 
“ Lovelace be desired to hasten his said answer, . 
€f to the end his Majesty may take such resolu-* 
“ tion thereupon as in his great wisdom shall be 
€C thought fit.” 

Lord Lovelace still withholding his answer, the 
Gentlemen preferred a third Petition to the King 
and Council, with a case annexed as follows :— 

“ To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, 
“ and the Right Honourable the Lords of His 
“ Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council. 

“ The humble Petition of several of your 
“ Majesty’s Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, and 
“ of William Thomas, Esq. Clerk of the Cheque, 

“ and Paymaster of the said Band. 

“ Sheweth, 

“ That on reading of their Petition delivered to 
“ your Majesty in Council the 8th day of April 
“ last, it was ordered that the Lord Lovelace 
“ should forthwith give in his answer to the said 


ill.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 143 

iC Petition. That on reading your Petitioners 
“ second Petition, which was presented to your 
“ Majesty in Council the 30th day of May last, 
“ setting forth the Lord Lovelace’s delay, your 
“ Majesty was pleased to order in Council the 
“ said Lord Lovelace should hasten his answer; 
f ( but his Lordship hath not yet thought fit to 
“ obey either of the said Orders, he being (as we 
<c humbly conceive) not able to give in an answer 
“ to the same; but by trouble, delay, and charge 
“ to weary out your Majesty’s Petitioners. 

“ Therefore humbly pray your sacred Majesty’s 
and this Honourable Board’s consideration on 
“ this severe usage ; and since the Lord Lovelace 
“ hath so delayed your Petitioners, and neglects 
« to obey your Majesty’s Orders, his Lordship 
« may be ordered to give in his answer by a pre- 
“ fixed day; otherwise that they may be ordered 
“ to continue in their said places and offices, they 
“ being all known Protestants, and heartily affected 
“ to your Majesty’s Service. 

« And your Petitioners shall ever pray. &c. 

“ Received July 11, 1889. 

“ Read in Council July 13, 1689. 


144 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ William 

“ The Gentlemen Pensioners Case on the Third 

“ Petition. 

“ That the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners was 
“ established by King Henry the Seventhly and 
“ have ever since continued. The rules for their 
u duty and the Captain’s power set forth in 
“ several Articles, King Charles the Second 
<c made establishments, where they have liberty 
iC to dispose of their places, His Majesty reserving 
€C the approbation of such persons (to be brought 
“ in) to himselff'. That no person thus admitted 

i 

“ hath been ever removed at the will of the 
“ Captain, and till now never any Captain pre- 
w tended to any such power. 

cc Notwithstanding all this, the Lord Lovelace 
<c the present Captain, hath turned out more 
cc than half the Band, without any regard to 
<c their ancient establishment, or quality of the 
i£ Gentlemen whom he commands. 

“ His Lordship, after several of the Band . 
<£ were sworn to his present Majesty, caused them 


* Erroneous as before, 
f Vide p. 117—Charles II. 



•' ; 

III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 145 

“ to clothe themselves for the Coronation, and 
“ obliged them to buy at his Draper s and Lace- 

“ man’s, pay ready monies, and all this at a dear 

\ 

“ rate, yet hath turned out the same. 

“ The Gentlemen Pensioners, for these griev- 
“ ances have, by several Petitions to His Majesty 
4f in Council, complained of their severe usage ; 
(C and on reading the first Petition, it was ordered 

\ 4 

u that the Lord Lovelace should forthwith give 
(e in his Answer, which was on the 9th day of 
66 May last. His Lordship neglecting to comply 
** with the said Order, on their second Petition 
“ he was ordered to hasten the said Answer; but 
“ to this day he hath not thought fit to obey 
“ either of the said orders. His Lordship being 
66 lately desired to put in his Answer, he says he 
“ will do it at his own leisure. Thus, by delays, 
fe trouble, and charge, his Lordship designs to 
“ weary us out, in contempt of the said 

“ orders. s 

£f We now pray, in our third Petition, a day 
“ may be prefixed for his putting in his Answer, 
“ in order to a hearing, or that His Majesty would 
“ continue us in our said places and offices.” 

L 


146 the honourable band of [ JVilliam 

This Third Petition produced his Lordship’s 
Answer, and a definitive Order of Council upon 
it in the following terms :— 

“ The Answer of John Lord Lovelace to the 
“ Petition of several of the late Band of Gentle- 

i 

“ men Pensioners, presented to His Majesty in 
u Council. 

“ That your Majesty having made this Respon- 
“ dent Captain of your Majesty’s Band of Gen- 
“ tlemen Pensioners, and your Majesty having 
“ established all the other Officers: this Res- 

“ pondent did make choice of, and did admit 

% * % 

“ and swear, according to the trust reposed by 
“ your Majesty in him, fit persons into the said 
“ Band, being Gentlemen of Quality and entire 
“ fidelity to your Majesty’s service, and for 
“ whom this Respondent can be answerable to 
“ your Majesty. 

(( As to the Petitioners complaints that they 
4i were in possession of their employments under 
“ the late King James, immediately before your 
“ Majesty’s accession to the Crown, and that they 
“ did purchase their places, and are not amoveable 
“ at the will of their Captain—This Respondent 


Ill] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


14? 


tt 

if 

tt 

tt 

if 

tt 

tt 

tt 

a 

tt 


tt 


a 


tt 


tt 


it 


tt 


tt 


tt 

tt 

tt 

a 

tt 


doth humbly answer, that the Petitioners have 
not been amoved ; for not one of them have 
been chosen or placed in by this Respondent: 
but the Petitioners holding their employments 
under the last King, as his Guard, and only 
during the pleasure of the said King, the same 
are absolutely determined : and their having 
been the Guard to the late King James does 
not seem to recommend them, that they should 
therefore be the Guard to your Majesty. 

“ And as it has been the method peculiar to 
your Majesty’s Armies, that Military Offices 
have not been bought, but some have been 
conferred for merit only—this Respondent 
dares not think that the Guard and Defence of 
your Majesty’s Person (which is the greatest 
trust that can be in this world) should be 
bought and sold for Money. 

“ However, this Respondent doth humbly 

% 

submit himself herein and in all things to 

✓ 

your Majesty’s will and pleasure, he having 
hitherto and intending always to serve your 
Majesty, with an honest heart and with clean 
hands. 


) 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


148 


? 


[[William 


“ This Respondent therefore humbly prays 
et that the Petition may be dismissed this Board. 

Lovelace/’ 


ec Read in Council, July 25, 1689.” 


“ At the Court at Whitehall, the 25tli of 
“ July, 1689. 

u Present, 

u The King’s Most Excellent Majesty, 

“ Whereas, on the Petition of several of their 
“ Majesties Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, and 
u of William Thomas, Esq. Clerk of the Cheque, 
“ and Pa 3 ^master to the said Band, setting forth 
“ that the Right Honourable Lord Lovelace, the 
“ present Captain of the said Band, hath dis- 
“ placed and turned out the said Pensioners of 

“ the said Band ; and humbly praying that they 

' / ■ 

“ may be continued in their said places and 
“ offices, net having hitherto misbehaved them- 
“ selves, and being most heartily disposed to His 
“ Majesty’s service—it was, on the 8th of May 
tf last, ordered in Council, that the Lord Love- 
“ lace should have a Copy of the said Petition, 
“ and return his Answer thereunto to this Board. 


4 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


149 


III] 

(i And whereas on the 18th instant his Majesty 
u in Council was pleased to appoint a hearing of 
u the Petitioners this day at the Board, touching 
“ what they had to allege^ who being called in 
“ and heard, and the Answer of the Lord Love- 
u lace being also read. His Majesty in Council, 
“ upon the whole matter, thought fit to declare, 
“ that such persons as have been put into the 
“ Band of Gentlemen Pensioners by the said 
“ Lord Lovelace, shall remain and continue in 
“ their places :—but that for the future no per- 
“ son shall be admitted into the Band of Gen- 
u tlemen Pensioners who shall not be first 
“ presented to His Majesty for His Majesty’s 
ct allowance and approbation.” 

After what passed at the Revolution, nothing 
further is to be traced in the Reign of King 
William. It does not appear that the com¬ 
plainants against Lord Lovelace were restored by 
the King, neither do they seem to have urged 
their case again to His Majesty. 




150 


i 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ Queen 


Queen Anne, notwithstanding the preceding 
declaration was pleased to shew some tenderness 

i / 

to two of the discarded parties, viz. to William 
Thomas, Clerk of the Cheque, and Samuel Alston, 
one of the Gentlemen of the Band. They severally 
preferred Petitions to the Queen and Council 
(now remaining in the Register Books) praying 
relief, and obtained a mandatory recommendation 
to the Duke of St. Albans (then Captain) to 
replace both of them on the first vacancies. The 
following are the proceedings thereupon in 
Council. • 

cc At the Court at St. James’s, the 1st day of 
“ May, 1703. 

“ Present, 

c: The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty. 

“ Upon reading this day at the Board a Re- 
“ port from the Duke of St. Albans on the 
“ Petition of William Thomas, setting forth, 
“ that in May 1673, he was sworn and admit- 




Anne.\ gentlemen pensioners, 151 

cc ted into the place of Clerk of the Cheque to the 
iC Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, to hold the 
u same for his Life, by Virtue of a Warrant from 
“ King Charles II. for which employment as he 
“ alleges he gave Seven Hundred Pounds, and 
“ continued therein till he was displaced by the 

i , 

ie late Lord Lovelace, Captain of the Band, 
“ without reason given for his removal: and upon 
iC hearing the said William Thomas thereunto, 
“ Pier Majesty in Council taking the Petitioner’s 
“ Case into consideration, is pleased to order 
€C that the Petitioner be, and he is hereby 
(< recommended to his Grace the Duke of St. 
“ Albans, preferably to any other person to be 
“ put into the said office of the said Band of 
“ Pensioners upon the first vacancy that shall 
“ happen.” 

The Order in Mr. Alston’s Case is as follows: 

“ At the Court at St. James’s, the 17th day 
“ of May, 1703. 

“ Present, 

tc The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty. 

« Upon reading this day at the Board the 


V 


l 


152 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ Queen 

“ Petition of Samuel Alston, setting forth that 
“ he was turned out of the Band of Gentlemen 

V 

u Pensioners (which employment cost him Five 
“ Hundred Pounds) by the late Lord Lovelace, 
u without any cause alleged, as his Grace the 
“ Duke of St. Albans certified in a Report, and 
“ humbly praying that an Order of Council of 
“ the 23d of May 1695, whereby the Petitioner 
“ was recommended by their Excellencies the 
iC then Lords Justices to his Grace the Duke of 
" St. Albans, to be admitted into and placed 
“ upon the establishment of the Band, upon the 
“ first vacancy that should happen therein, may 
“ be confirmed according to its date and pre- 
“ cedency :—It is ordered by Her Majesty in 
“ Council that the said Samuel Alston accordingly 
“ be, and he is hereby, recommended to his 
“ Grace the Duke of St. Albans, Captain of the 
(i Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, to be admitted 
“ into and placed upon the establishment of the 

said Band, upon the first vacancy that shall 
u happen therein, according to the intention of 
<tf the said order.” 

It appears on the face of the Orders of Council 


< 


Anne.\ gentlemen pensioners. i 153 

that Mr. Thomas purchased the Office of Clerk 
of the Cheque* as did Mr. Alston that of a Gen¬ 
tleman Pensioner in the reign of K. Charles II. 

* 

but no notice is taken of the Paymastership in 
the order relating to Mr. Thomas* whereby it may 
be fairly presumed that the same was presented 
to him ; which there is every reason to believe 
has invariably been the practice. 

The pay and allowances for travelling during 
this reign to the Band were greatly in arrear, 
which will appear by the annexed memorial:— 

“ To the Most Honourable the Lord High 
“ Treasurer of Great Britain. 

“ The Memorial of Her Majesty’s Band of 
“ Gentlemen Pensioners. 

“ That your Lordship was pleased to sign an 
“ Order, dated the 12th of March 1711* for four 
“ thousand five hundred pounds due to the said 
u Band for three quarters’ salary* at Christmas 
“ 1711. And also another Order* dated 14th 
“ November 1712, for seven hundred and eighty 

“ pounds due for the Band’s travelling charges in 

» 

(( 1710 and 17ll> of which said sums there has 




u 


iC 


(( 


u 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Queen 

/ 

been only seven hundred and fifty pounds paid 
to the Duke of Saint Albans, their late Captain. 
“ The said Band beg leave further to represent 
to your Lordship, that to maintain the honour 
of their posts they must be at great expence to 
new clothe themselves on her Majesty’s happy 
u birth-day. 

(e Notwithstanding there are now due to them 
“ three years’ travelling charges, and at Lady 
u Day next two years’ salary. 

“ Wherefore that the Gentlemen of the Band 
iC m&y be enabled to bear the said expence, they 
ec most humbly request your Lordship to give 
u directions for payment of their arrears or such 
“ part thereof, as to your Lordship’s great wis- 
u dom and goodness shall seem convenient.” 

Whereupon Her Majesty issued the following 
Order:— 

“ Anne R. 

“ Anne, by the Grace of God, Queen of Great 
u Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the 
“ Faith, &c. To the Treasurer and Under- 
Treasurer of our Exchequer now being, and to 
our Treasurer or Commissioners of our Treasury 


€( 


<( 


Anne] gentlemen pensioners. J55 

“ and Under-Treasurer of our Exchequer for the 
“ time being. Greeting. Whereas by warrant 
“ under our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date 
“ the second day of October 1708, We directed 
“ payment to be made to each of the Gentlemen 
“ of our Band of Pensioners that should attend 
“ us in his post on Sundays, or other days of 
u solemnity, at Windsor, of an allowance of six 
u shillings and eight-pence for such day of his 
a attendance, and a like allowance of six shillings 
“ and eight-pence for his charges in coming 
thither, and six shillings and eight-pence more 
“ for his like charge in returning back again in 
C( such manner as by the said warrant, relation 
“ being thereunto had may more fully appear. 
“ And whereas our right trusty and right entirely 
“ beloved cousin and counsellor Henry Duke of 
u Beaufort, Captain of our said Band of Gen- 

V 

* \ 

(C tlemen Pensioners, hath represented unto us, 
that the Clerk of the Cheque and Harbinger 
tc are obliged to the same charges and expences 
u in their attendance on us as the rest of the 
u Band, but being omitted out of our said 
iC warrant they have had no consideration for 




% 


156 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ Qti€€tt 

'* their said expenees, and that there is no allow- 
itr ance contained therein for the said Gentlemen 
6i Pensioners, or for the Clerk or Harbinger of 
u the said Band, for the charge of their attend- 
u ance on us at Hampton Court, though they 
<f are obliged to the same duty and expence there 

f 

“ as at Windsor; all which we having taken into 
cc our roval consideration, do think it reasonable 
u and are graciously pleased to grant and allow, 
“ that from the year 1709 the Gentlemen of the 
u said Band do receive the like allowance for 
u their attendance on us at Hampton Court as is 
“ allowed to them by the aforesaid warrant, for 

cc their attendance on us at Windsor. And also 

\ ' ;> 

u that the Clerk of the Cheque and Harbinger of 
6C the said Band have the like allowance from 
£C Lady Day last past, for their attendance on us 
“ at Windsor and Hampton Court. And whereas 
iC for the more regular payments of the said 
sc allowance, we have resolved that the same 
(C shall be from time to time issued at the Receipt 
“ of our Exchequer to our trusty and well beloved 
C( William Smith, Esq. (who, by letters patent, 
tc is appointed receiver and paymaster to our 


Anne .] gentlemen pensioners. 157 

^ said Band of Gentlemen Pensioners) or to the 
receiver and paymaster of the said Band for 
u the time being, according to warrants or cer- 
tificates to be signed from time to time by the 
“ Chamberlain of our Household in that behalf. 

✓ i > * *• 

C( Our will and pleasure now is, and we do hereby 
“ direct, authorize, and command, that upon 
“ warrants or certificates to be signed by the 
“ Chamberlain of our Household now and for 
“ the time being, expressing the number of the 
fe Gentlemen of the said Band who have been 
“ and shall be appointed to attend upon us at 
<c Windsor or Hampton Court, and upon rolls 
“ signed and to be signed by the Clerk of the 
“ Cheque and one of the commanding officers of 
“ the said Band, containing the names of each 
“ Gentleman of the said Band who hath and 
“ shall have actually attended at these places, or 
(C either of them, you cause payment to be made 
“ to the said William Smith,* or to the paymaster 

t _ , _ - 

* “ Copy of Sir Edward Nor they s Opinion relating to Mr. 
“ Smith's receiving the Band's Travelling Charges. 

« lam of opinion Mr. Smith by his patent being appointed 
C( to receive such wages, stipends, sums of money, and other 




✓ 

j' 1 • . • 

158 the honourable band of [Qiieeyj 

“ of the said Band for the time being, without 
“ account, out .of any our treasure or revenue 
u from time to time in the receipt of our 
“ Exchequer, applicable to the uses of our civil 
“ government so much as the travelling charges 


“ allowances as then were or then after should be allowed or 
i( grow due to the Band of Pensioners or any of them, for or 
ct in respect of their several offices and places 3 the allowances 
t( after made to the Gentlemen of that Band for Travelling 
“ Charges are within these words—However Her Majesty’s 
Warrant, dated October the 2 nd, 1708, for making those 
allowances, being express that the Treasurer of Her 
“ Majesty’s Chamber shall pay them to the respective 
(( Gentlemen of that Band attending her Majesty at Windsor, 
“ or their assigns, by warrant of the Lord Chamberlain of 
Her Majesty’s Household 3 I do not see how the Treasurer 
“ of the Chamber hath authority to pay those allowances to 
“ the Paymaster of that Band, till Her Majesty shall give 
tf other directions therein. It hath been alleged to me, 
t( that the Treasurer of the Chamber insists to deduct out of 
“ the money he pays nineteen-pence per pound 3 and Mr. 
€< Smith by his patent is to deduct twelve-pence per pound 3 
l< and it will be a great hardship on the Gentlemen of the Band 
if they are subject to both deductions, as I apprehend they 
tf will be, whether Mr. Smith or any other receives those 
“ monies, which may be remedied if the Travelling Charges 
were issued at the Exchequer with the other monies payable 
t( to that Band. 

“ Edward Northey.” 

“ July 24, 1712.” 



jinne. j gentlemen pensioners. 159 

above mentioned shall amount unto, in manner 
“ following, that is to say, for what hath incurred 
u and shall incur and grow due thereupon for 
“ the attendance'of any of the Gentlemen of our 
u said Band, at Hampton Court, from Lady Day 

1709 ; and at Windsor, from the time to which 
“ the same was last paid. And also for the Clerk 
“ of the Cheque and Harbinger of the said Band, 
“ for their attendance at Windsor and Hampton 
“ Court, the like allowance as the Gentlemen of 
u the said Band, from Lady Day 1712; which 
“ warrants, rolls, or certificates are to Contain 
u the respective days of their attendances in 
“ each year (such days being Sundays or days of 
“ solemnity only); and not to be for any greater 
u number of our said Band’s attendance at any 
“ one time than have been usual before any 
u travelling charges were granted by us for the 
“ same; the said allowances to continue during 
“ our pleasure. And these our Letters of Privy 
<c Seal being first entered in the office of our said 
“ Chamberlain of our Household, and with the 
Ctf Auditor of our Imprests, to the end no further 
fC payments may be made by virtue of our former 


) 


160 the honourable band of [QueenAnne. 

u warrant herein before recited, or be allowed in 
“ the accounts of the Treasurer of the Chamber. 
“ And this shall be to you and every of you a 
“ sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalf. 

“ Given, &c. 

“ Oxford & Mortimer.” 
“ To the Treasurer, &c.” 

.. ’ • 

The Clerk of the Cheque, Philip Pendock, Esq. 
issued on the 20th July 1712, the Captain’s order 
(the Duke of Beaufort) for the Band to wear 
their new clothes, red topped shoes, a white 
feather and stockings, and hat according to 
pattern :—and for mourning on the 6th of April 
1714, their regimental coat, a black waistcoat, 
breeches, and stockings, a mourning sword, and 
a plain hat. 

On the 2nd of August 1714, the Gentlemen 
were ordered to carry tlieir axes in mourning at 
the funeral of Her Majesty :—on the 10th to 
attend the funeral in close mourning (cloaks 
excepted) :—and on the 17th, in pursuance of an 
Order of Council, the whole Band was required 
to attend Her late Majesty’s body on the following 
Sunday evening from the Prince’s Chamber in 
Westminster to the Royal Vault, 



161 


George I.] gentlemen pensioners. 


Nothing is discernible in the reign of George I. 
which can excite any interest relative to the Band. 
There are no orders extant except those for 
general and particular attendances, dispensations 
for absence, and directions as to the dress of the 
Gentlemen:— in one of which the Band was 
required to wear scarlet stockings. 

On the 5th of October 1714, the Band received 
notice to attend at the Coronation of His Majesty, 
and to new clothe themselves for that purpose. 

_) I # 

On the 22nd of June 1727, the Band was 
required to attend the funeral of His Majesty, 
in pursuance of the following order:— 

“ Sir, 

“ I am commanded by our Captain the Right 
(( Honourable the Marquis of Artington to ac- 
" quaint you, that it is his Lordship’s pleasure 
“ that you forthwith put yourself into close 
66 mourning for the late King; and that you 
iC have for mourning a scarlet coat trimmed with 
“ black, with a black cloth waistcoat and breeches^ 

M 


( 




162 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [GcOVgC 

“ black sword and buckles; and you must also 
ce put your axe into mourning. 

“ 1 am, Sir, your humble Servant, 

“ G. Turner/* 


On the 8th of October 1727, the Clerk of the 
Cheque issued the following notice, requiring 
the attendance of the Band at the Coronation of 
His Majesty King George II. 

“ Sir, 

“ His Majesty’s Coronation being fixed for 
a the eleventh day of this instant October, I am 

ct commanded by our Captain to give you notice 

✓ 

“ that it is his Lordship’s express command that 
<c you attend the said solemnity on pain of 
“ incurring his Lordship’s displeasure on your 
“ neglect. And you are required to be in West- 
“ minster Hall by nine of the clock in the 
morning on the said day, in order to your 
“ marching in the procession. 

“ I am, Sir, your humble Servant, 

« October 8, 1727.” 


G. Turner.” 



II.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 163 

“ Sir William Wynne, Standard Bearer of the 
<f Band, and Sir John Taylor, one of the Gen- 
“ tfemen Pensioners, were the two who were 
“ knighted on account of the Band’s attendance 
“ at the Coronation:—and the King paid their 
“ fees of knighthood. The Gentlemen of the 
“ Band carried up the King’s dinner.” 

/ L , U- .,-fc 

S / 

In the same year the Band attended His 
Majesty, on Lord Mayor’s Day, into the City; 
as appears by the following summons 

“ Sir, 

His Majesty having accepted of an invitation 
« to dine with the Lord Mayor on the 29th of 
“ this instant October, being Lord Mayor’s Day. 
“ By our Captain’s express command, you are 
<c required to meet the rest of the Gentlemen 
of the Band by twelve o’clock at noon, at 
« the Tavern in King Street, near Guildhall, 
“ where a dinner will be provided for the Gen- 
“ tlemen at the City’s expence. And from 
“ thence, about three o’clock in the afternoon, 
“ you must proceed in a body witli the rest ol 

M 2 


164 - TIIE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 

“ the Gentlemen to Guildhall, there to expect 
“ His Majesty’s arrival. 

“ I am. Sir, 

“ Your humble Servant, 

“ G. Turner.” 

« October 25, 1727.” 

The Duke of Montagu (Captain) addressed 
the following letter to George Turner, Esq. the 
Clerk of the Cheque, on the 2nd of February 
1734, relative to the oath administered by him 
to the Gentlemen on their admission. 

“ Sir, 

<c If you will look into your Old Book of 
“ Orders relating to the Band, you will find in 
“ those made by King Henry the Eighth, that 

i 

u every Gentleman was to be furnished with two 

“ great horses for himself and his servant. 

“ And I think the oath which you make every 
\ ' ^ 1 
“ Gentleman take at his admission, as it is set 

“ down in your Book, mentions only two great 

“ horses and one servant. 

% 

“ But you will afterwards find in the additions 


II ] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 165 

“ made by Sir Anthony Browne in Henry the 
u Eighth’s time, that whereas they were then 

u bound to find two great horses only, they 

* 

“ should from that time forward each of them 
“ find three great horses, the meaning of which 
“ includes also another servant to mount the 
“ additional horse. 

“ In the Orders made by King Charles the 
(c First, he confirms the former order for their 
iC finding three great horses. 

“ King James the Second, in his Orders, also 
u confirms the order for their finding three great 
“ horses for themselves and two servants. 

“ Therefore the oath ought to be conformable 
“ to the Orders, and should say three double 

f v 

“ horses and two men. For the oath as it is 
“ given now must certainly have been given 
“ wrong, either by neglect or mistake in some 
“ former Clerks of the Cheque. 

<c For as you see by all the subsequent orders 
<£ from those made by Henry the Eighth, in your 
“ Book, and by the number roll of the Band in 

■» , p 

ie King Edward the Sixth’s time, that every 
“ Gentleman Pensioner had three horses and 



THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


[George 


“ two servants, it is absurd the oath should not 
“ be agreeable to that, though it is wkat in 
u reality will never be called in question; but, 
“ however, you should administer the oath for 
“ the time to come conformable to the orders of 
“ finding three great horses and two servants, 
“ and begin with Mr. Monck. 

<c I am, 

“ Your humble Servant, 

“ Montagu/’ 

“ February 2, 1734.” 

To George Turner, Esq. 

Clerk of the Cheque to the Band, &c. 


His Grace the Duke of Montagu, on the *28th 
of December 1734, addressed another letter to 
the Clerk, which, while it gives a very polite 
reprehension for previous neglect, exacts a 
rigorous attention in future, and admits at the 
same time of a latitude which at present exists. 

u Sir, 

tc As His Majesty has done me the honour 
“ to entrust me with the command of His 


II. J GENTLEMEN TENSIONERS. 1G7 

“ Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, 
“ so I think it an indispensible duty incumbent 
“ upon me to do every thing in that trust which 
“ may be for the honour of His Majesty, and of 
u the Band ; and not to suffer any thing which 
“ may derogate from either. The Band of 
“ Pensioners, as they have the honour to be 
“ His Majesty’s nearest Guard, so they are 
“ intitled to an honour which no other of His 
“ Guards have, which is that of mounting 
“ Guard daily in His Majesty’s Presence Cham- 
“ ber, and thereby becoming more nearly 
“ entrusted than any other in the immediate 
“ Guard of his Majesty’s sacred person. 

“ This honour was first granted to the Band 

i 

“ by King Henry VIII. by the Ordinances 
« made by him for the Government of the 
“ Band,* and was confirmed by King Charles I. 

“ in the year 1 G33^|-by King Charles II. 

“ in the year 1677^—and by King James II. 
“ 1684.^ 


* Vide p. 5.—12. 
f — p. 92.—98. 

X -p. 115—117. 

5 -p. ]19.—129. 


/ 


/ 





168 the honourable band of [George 

■*» • • 

( 

“ This material, and one of the most 
“ honourable parts of the duty belonging to the 
u Gentlemen Pensioners, they are not only 
“ under the penalty of the Cheque, but by the 
“ Oath taken at their admission, obliged to 
<c perform; by which Oath they are bound to 

“ observe the Rules and Articles already made, 

% 

“ or which shall be hereafter made for the 
(c Government of the Band, and in all things to 
C( be obedient to their Officers, so far as their 
cc commands shall concern the service of the 

i 

“ King’s Majesty. 

“ But notwithstanding their obligations, I 
u have observed this material part of their duty 
ci of daily attendance in the Presence Chamber 
“ has been of late years neglected, which I can 
“ attribute to no other cause in the Gentlemen 
“ than the want of their being rightly informed 
“ of their duty, which if they had known, I 
<c am persuaded they would never have neglected 
“ that duty which they owe to His Majesty, and 
<c obliged to by their Oath, and which is a 
<c dishonour for them to omit. 

And as I am persuaded it will be entirely 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


169 


II] 


* c pleasing to the Gentlemen to have them 
“ maintained in every part of the honourable 
“ Privileges belonging to them, which at the 
“ same time is consistent with the duty which 
“ myself and they owe to His Majesty, it is 
“ my intention that from New Year’s Day next 
a you do take due care, (as you are obliged by 
cc your office either by yourself, or by your 
(i Deputy) that the Gentlemen of the Band 
ec do attend every morning with their Axes in 
“ the Presence Chamber. 

“ By the Articles of the Band, the whole 
“ Band are to attend during Christmas time ; 
“ but I shall dispense with the attendance of 
“ the whole for this time—provided that all the 
“ Gentlemen, who are now in town, do give 
i£ their attendance on the 1st of January, and 
that from that time forward Five of the 
“ Gentlemen do attend every morning,* in the 
u Presence Chamber, with their Axes, from the 
“ hour of Ten till His Majesty is gone to 


* At this period His Majesty George II. had a Levee every 
Morning. 







170' THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 

“ Dinner, and that they also attend with their 
“ Battle Axes in the Presence Chamber every 
u Drawing Room Night, and other public 
nights, # from eight o’clock in the evening 
u till His Majesty is retired, and always to 
“ stand to their Arms when any of the Royal 
(c Family, or the Captain pass by. 

“ This is what I desire you will forthwith 
t( acquaint the Lieutenant, Standard Bearer, 
(i and Gentlemen of the Band with, and as it 
“ a duty so much for the honour of the King 
“ to have performed, and for the Gentlemen to 
“ perform, so I am persuaded it will be with 
“ the greatest pleasure the Gentlemen will 
u receive this Order, and that consequently they 
“ will obey it with the greatest cheerfulness. 
“ I am, Sir, 

Your Friend and Servant, 

“ Montagu. 

“ Ditton, December 28, 1734. 

# s . r ., ( .xO ' • 

» 

“ I would have you every week let me have 


* Queen Caroline the Consort of George II. had her Draw¬ 
ing Rooms> in an Evening. 



II ] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. l?i 

ff< a Return of the Names of the several Gentle- 

i 

“ men that have mounted Guard on the several 
“ days of'that week.” 

To George Turner, Esq. 

Clerk of the Cheque to the Band, &c. 

» 

The following letter from the Duke of Mon¬ 
tagu to the Clerk of the Cheque is inserted, in 
order that the situation and duty of the Band on 
the Sovereign attending the Parliament House, 
may be clearly and properly understood. 

Sir, 

“ You are hereby required to give notice to 
<c the Officers and all the Gentlemen of His 
“ Majesty’s Band of Gentlemen Pensioners under 
“ my command, that when His Majesty goes to 
“ the Parliament House, the five Gentlemen in 
“ waiting in the Presence Chamber do always 
“ attend His Majesty down stairs, with their 
<c axes, to his coach, and wait till it is gone off; 
iC and on His Majesty’s return from the House 
u to Saint James’s, they receive him at his 
“ alighting out of his coach, and guard His 


✓ 


172 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF f George 

u Majesty up stairs into the Presence Chamber, 
6€ where they usually wait. And it is my further 
“ order, and the Gentlemen of the Band are 
“ hereby required to take especial care that four 
of the Gentlemen in waiting on His Majesty, 
<£ at the Parliament House, do receive him at his 
u getting out of his coach, and follow into the 
“ Prince’s Chamber, where His Majesty robes, 
“ and place themselves as near the King as 
u conveniently may be, before the Yeomen of 
u the Guard, and stand to their arms till His 
fc Majesty is gone into the House ; and that they 
ct place themselves in the like manner against 
“ His Majesty comes out of the House, and 
u whilst His Majesty unrobes, and attend him 
u down stairs to his coach. 

“ I am. Sir, 

“ Your Friend and Servant, 

Montagu/* 

“ February 2, 1737.” - t£ 

To George Turner, Esq. 

Clerk of the Cheque to the Band, &c. 



i 


II.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


173 


Among a variety of orders relative to the dress 
of the Band, the following one is selected to shew 
the mourning used on the death of Queea 
Caroline. 

V. . 

“ November 24, 1737. 

« Sir, 

“ You are hereby required to give notice to 
“ the Gentlemen of the Band, that they put 
“ themselves in mourning for the Queen by 
“ Sunday the 4th day of December next; and 
“ that they are to have for their mourning a 
“ scarlet cloth coat trimmed with black, with 
“ sleeves faced with black cloth, without buttons 
u on the sleeves or pockets, with a black cloth 
“ waistcoat and breeches, cambric weepers broad 
“ hemmed, shammy gloves, crape hatbands, 
“ black swords, buttons, and buckles ; and you 
“ are also to signify to the Gentlemen, that their 
“ axes be covered with black velvet. Given 
* c under my hand, the day and year above-said. 

' “ Montagu.” 

To George Turner, Esq. 

Clerk of the Cheque to the Band, &c. 


174 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ George 

The following Extract is inserted from the 
Minutes of the Lords of the Council, relative to 

the Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Caroline. 

\ 

t€ At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 5th 

“ of December 1737 : 

♦ . * ^ 

“ By a Committee of the Lords of His Majesty’s 
“ Most Honourable Privy Council, appointed 
ie to consider of Her Majesty’s Funeral:— 

“ It is this day ordered by their Lordships, 
“ that the Band of Pensioners which was directed 
“ by a former order of this Committee to attend 
“ at the foot of the stairs of the Prince’s Chamber 
“ at the time of the interment, in order to receive 
" Her Majesty’s Body, be disposed of in the fol- 
“ lowing manner, viz. that ten of the said Band 
“ do march with their axes reversed on one side 
“ of the said canopy, which is to be carried over 

“ Her Majesty’s body ; and ten on the other side 

» 

“ in the same manner; and that the remaining 
i( part of the Band, with their axes erect, do fall 
“ in at the close of the procession, next before 
“ the Yeomen of the Guard. 


Temple Stanyan/' 


II] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


175 


The following directions were issued by the 
Captain, which added greatly to the solemnity 
and grandeur of the occasion. 

“ Sir, 

Cf I. The Band of Gentlemen Pensioners are 
“ to meet at Oliver’s Coffee House near West- 
“ minter Hall Gate at three o’clock in the 
afternoon precisely on Saturday the 17th of 
u this instant December, from whence they 
“ are to proceed at four o’clock in a body to 
“ the Painted Chamber, and from thence through 
“ the House of Lords to the Prince’s Chamber 
“ to take upon them the guard of Her late 
“ Majesty’s Body, and to accompany the same 
“ during the Funeral, pursuant to an Order of 
“ Council, directing that twenty Gentlemen 
“ Pensioners are to march near the Body, ten 
“ on each side thereof with their Axes reversed, 
“ and that the remaining part of the Band 
“ are to march behind the late Queen’s Bed 
46 Chamber Women, immediately before the 
<( Yeomen of the Guard. 

“ II. The Band being come'Ho the Prince’s 
“ Chamber, the Twenty Gentlemen who are to 


I 


176 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [GeOTgC 

“ have the immediate Guard of Her late 
“ Majesty’s Body, are to range themselves 
“ against the wall on each side of the same 
“ room, as near to the Body as can conveniently 
“ be, ten on one side of the room with the 
“ Lieutenant of the Band at their head, and ten on 
“ the other side with the Standard-Bearer at their 
“ head, upon the commencement of the march 

“ the said Officers are to post themselves in the 

_ * 

“ rear of their ranks, and the Gentlemen Pern 

/ /*- v\ 

“ sioners are to reverse their Arms. 

“ III. The remaining part of the Band are to 
“ range themselves on the stairs leading from 
u the Prince’s Chamber to the Palace Yard, 
“ under the conduct of the Clerk of the Cheque. 

“ IV. When the Body shall proceed to the 
“ Interment, the Officer on the right, shall 
gc march equal with the Head of the Body and 
the tenth Gentlemen Pensioners from the 
“ Officer is to march upon an equal line with 
** the Lord Chancellor before the Body, and 
u the Officer and Gentlemen Pensioners on the 
left, are to observe the same manner of 
u marching. 



/ 


II.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


177 


“ V. The Captain being appointed one of the 
“ Pail-Bearers, the Lieutenant of the Band of 

Pensioners, is to march in the rear of the ten 
“ Gentlemen Pensioners, who walk on the right 
“ side of the Body, and the Standard Bearer of 
“ the Band, is to march in the rear of the ten 
fC Gentlemen, who walk on the left side of the 
“ Body. 

“ VI. The Gentlemen Pensioners who walk 
ic on the right side of the Body, are to bear 
“ their Arms reversed in their right hands, and 
u those who march on the left side, are to bear 
“ their Axes reversed in their left hands. 

“ VII. The remaining part of the Band, who 
“ are to be ranged on the stairs leading from 
“ the Prince’s Chamber to Palace Yard are to 
“ march two a breast, with their Axes erect, 
“ with the Clerk of the Cheque at their head, 
“ immediately after the late Queen’s Bed 
M Chamber Women, and before the Yeomen ol 
“ the Guard. 

“ VIII. When the Body is set down in King 
* e Henry the Seventh’s Chapel, the Gentlemen 
“ Pensioners who marched on each side thereof in 

N 


178 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 

“ the procession are to recover their Axes, and 
“ stand during the service in the same order in 
“ which they marched in the procession, and the 
(t Officers are to post themselves at the head of 
“ their ranks, next to the chief mourner. 

“ IX. The remaining part of the Band with the 
“ Clerk of the Cheque, who marched in the 
u procession behind the late Queen’s Bed Cham- 
“ ber Women, are as soon as they are entered 
“ King Henry the Seventh’s Chapel to draw up in 
“ one rank, just within the door of the Chapel, 
“ and facing the Tomb of King Henry the 
u Seventh. 

“ X. When the ceremony is over and the 
“ procession returns, the Twenty Gentlemen of 
“ the Band, who marched on each side of the 
“ Body to the Chapel, are to march back with 
“ the Officers at their head, the Captain to 
“ march immediately behind the chief mourner 
“ on the right of her train, and the Lieutenant 
“ and Standard Bearer on each side in a line 
u with the chief mourner, the'Gentlemen Pen- 
“ sioners marching with their Axes erect, in the 

r^ear of the Officers, and shall extend them- 






i 


II.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS, 179 

<c selves at equal distances from each other so as 
that the last of the Ten Gentlemen Pensioners 
“ on each side to be equal in a line with the 
last of the Sixteen Ladies Assistants to the 
6( Chief Mourner. 

“ XI. And the remaining part of the Band 
“ are also to march after the late Queen’s Bed 
“ Chamber Women immediately before the 
“ Yeomen of the Guard back to the Prince’s 
(t Chamber in the same order they came from 
“ thence. 

ff Montagu.” 

The royal body of Queen Caroline was con¬ 
veyed privately from St. James’s Palace to the 
Prince’s Chamber, adjoining the House of Peers, 
the evening previous to her funeral; and was in¬ 
terred in Henry the Seventh’s Chapel, according 
to the Order of Ceremonial issued by the Earl 
Marshal on that occasion, in manner following:— 

Knight Marshal’s Men, with black Staves, two and two. 

Pages of the Presence to the King. 

Pages of the Presence to the Queen. 

Pages of the Back Stairs to the King. 

Pages of the Back Stairs to the Queen. 

Pages of the Bed Chamber to the King. 


I 


180 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ George 


Gentlemen Ushers Quarter Waiters to the King. 
Gentlemen Ushers Quarter Waiters to the Queen. 
Pages of Honour to the King. 

Pages of Honour to the Queen. 

Grooms of the Privy Chamber to the King. 

Grooms of the Privy Chamber to the Queen. 
Gentleman Usher Assistant. 

* - 

Gentlemen Ushers Daily Waiters to the King. 

• 

Third Gentleman Usher Daily Waiter to the Queen, 
Physicians to the King. 

Physicians to the Queen. 

Household Chaplains to the King. 

Clerk of the Closet to the Queen. 

Equerries to the King. 

Equerries to the Queen. 

Clerks, Comptrollers, and Clerks of the Green Cloth. 

The Master of the King’s Household. 

Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber to the King. 
Third Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber to the Queen. 
The King’s Solicitor. The King’s Attorney. 

The Queen’s Solicitor. The Queen’s Attorney. 

s 

Auditor, Secretary, and Treasurer to the Queen. 

• Barons Younger Sons. 

Viscounts Younger Sons. 

Barons of the Exchequer, and Justices of both Benches, 
according to their seniority. 

Lord Chief Baron. 


Lord Chief Justice of the 
Common Pleas. 


Master of the Rolls. 


Lord Chief Justice of the 
King’s Bench. 

Bath King of Arms. 




II.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 181 

Knights of the Bath, not Lords, nor Privy Counsellors, 

in their Collars. 

Privy Counsellors, not Peers of the Realm. 

Barons Eldest Sons. 

Earls Younger Sons. 

Viscounts Eldest Sons. 

Knights of the Garter, in their Collars. 

The Comptroller of the King’s Householder. 

Speaker of the House of Commons. 

Chancellor to the Queen, carrying the Purse. 

Two Pursuivants. 

Barons of Ireland. 

Barons of Great Britain. 

Bishops, in their Rochets. 

Marquisses Younger Sons, 

Earls Eldest Sons. 

i 

A Pursuivant. 

/ 

Viscounts of Ireland. 

Viscounts of Great Britain. 

V 

Dukes Younger Sons. 

% 

Marquisses Eldest Sons. 

One Herald of Arms. 

Earls of Ireland. 

Earls of Great Britain. 

Earl of Effingham, as exercising the office of Earl Marshal of 

England. 

Dukes Eldest Sons. 

One Herald of Arms. 

Marquisses. 

/ 

One Herald of Arms. 


182 


the honourable band of [ George 


Dukes. 

One Herald of Arms. 

Lord Privy Seal. 

Lord President of the Council. 

Lord Archbishop of York. 

Lord Chancellor, bearing the Purse. 

Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Norroy King of Arms * 

Master of the Horse to the Queen. 

Second Gentleman Clarencieux King of First Gentleman 
Usher Arms, carrying Usher 

Daily Waiter to the Crown on a Daily Waiter to 

the Queen. Velvet Cushion. ' the Queen. 

\ 

. Lord Chamberlain to the Queen. 



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THE ROYAL BODY, 

Carried by Twelve Yeomen of 
the Guard, covered with a 
large Pall of black Velvet, 
and lined with black Silk, 
with a fine Holland Sheet, 
adorned with Ten large 
Escutcheons painted on 
Satin, under a Canopy of 
black Velvet. 


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A Gentleman Usher Garter Principal Gentleman Usher of 
of King the Black Rod, 

the King’s. of Arms. the Rod reversed. 


* The Dean of Westminster and Prebends, attended by 
the Choir, all having wax tapers in their hands, fell into the 
procession as it entered the Abbey, just before Norroy King of 
Arms. 


( 




I 


II. J GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 183 


Supporter 
to the 

Chief Mourner, 
a Duke. 


The Chief Mourner, 
supported by Two Dukes, 
her Train borne by 
Two Duchesses, 
assisted by the Queen’s 
Vice Chamberlain. 


Supporter 
to the 

Chief Mourner, 
a Duke 


Sixteen Duchesses to be Assistants to the Chief Mourner. 


First Gentleman Usher of the Queen’s Privy Chamber. 
Ladies of the Bed Chamber. 


Ladies of the Bed Chamber to the Princesses. 

Second Gentleman Usher of the Queen’s Privy Chamber. 

The Maids of Honour. 

The Queen’s Bedchamber Women. 

The remaining part of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, with 

their Axes. 


Yeomen of the Guard to close the Ceremony. 


The Funeral Service being ended, and an Anthem sung in 
the Choir, Garter King of Arms proclaimed Her Majesty’s 
Stile, as followeth :—“ Thus it has pleased Almighty God to 
“ take out of this transitory life to his divine mercy, the late 
“ most High, most Mighty, and most Excellent Princess 
“ Caroline, by the Grace of God, Queen Consort of the most 
“ High, most Mighty, and most Excellent Monarch George 
“ the Second, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, 
“ France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith; whom God 
“ bless and preserve with long life, health, and honour, and 
“ all worldly happiness.” 

EFFINGHAM, M. 


/ 


Note —Knights of the Garter, Thistle, and of the Bath, wore 
the Collars of their respective Orders. 


i 



I 


184 THE HONOURABLE BAND OT [George 

George Turner, Esq. Clerk of the Cheque, 
received from the Duke of Montagu an ebony 
staff, as an insignia of his office, on the 7th 
December 1737, whereupon the following me¬ 
morandum was entered in the Order Book. 

“ His Grace the Duke of Montagu was pleased 

% 

“ to give a staff to George Turner, Esq. Clerk of 
“ the Cheque,* and directed him to carry the 
“ same whenever he attended on His Majesty in 
“ the Presence Chamber.” 

His Grace the Duke of Bolton, in 1741, directed 
that the Band should wear brigadier perriwigs. 

In 1743 the Right Honourable Lord Bathurst, 
Captain of the Band, issued the following Rules 
to be observed and kept by the Messenger and 
Axe-Keeper of His Majesty’s Band of Gentlemen 
Pensioners. 

“ I. Every Sunday and on all other days 
“ when the attendance of the whole Band, or 
cc of all the Gentlemen in the Quarter’s wait, is 


* The Clerk of the Cheque had the privilege of wearing an 
officer’s uniform, given to him at the same period; and the 
staff carries the more honour with it, as the Clerk of the 
Cheque of the Yeomen of the Guard has no such official badge. 



II] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


185 


“ required on His Majesty at Saint James's, the 

ce Axe-Keeper is to take care to set their axes 

♦ 

Cf ready for them in the Presence Chamber where 
“ they attend and when their attendance is 
“ over, he is to lock them up in the chest placed 
“ in the Guard Chamber for that purpose. 

“ II. When the King receives the Sacra- 
cc ment, after the Gentlemen have guarded His 
“ Majesty from the Presence Chamber to His 
“ Closet, he is to remove the Axes into the 
“ anti-chapel, where the Gentlemen attend His 
£C Majesty’s coming to receive or offer. 

cc III. When the King goes to the Parliament 
“ House, the Axe-Keeper must have the Axes 
(C there, and place them on the stairs leading up 
u to the Prince’s Chamber; and when their 
66 attendance is over, he is to carry the Axes back 
“ to Saint James’s. 

“ IV. When His Majesty removes to any ol 
u his palaces out of town, the Axe-Keeper is to 

t 

“ give the whole Band notice, and to remove a 
“ sufficient number of Axes to such places where 
“ His Majesty shall reside. 

u V. When the whole Band, or twenty of 
<c them are in waiting, the Axe-Keeper is to wait 


/ 


186 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 

“ in the Guard Chamber adjoining to the Pre- 
“ sence Chamber, in which the Gentlemen wait, 
“ and not to depart the room till the Gentlemen 
“ are discharged their attendance :—and at the 
“ Parliament House he is in like manner to wait 
tc on the inside, close to the door leading up the 
“ stairs to the Prince’s Chamber, and to give 
“ notice of the King’s arrival. 

“ VI. He must always give the respective 
<c Gentlemen notice when they come into their 

r ' 

“ quarterly and weekly waiting ; and also he 
sc must always give notice whose turn it is out of 
their quarterly waiting to attend His Majesty 
“ at the Parliament House, in the places of the 
“ five Gentlemen who are to wait on such days 
cc at Saint James’s. 

“ VII. He is to give the Officers, Gentlemen 

* • 

“ in waiting, and Gentleman Harbinger notice 
“ whenever the Court goes into close mourning, 
“ second mourning, and out of mourning. 

“ VIII. He is to inform himself and give 
“ notice at all times when the King goes to the 
“ Parliament House, and to summon the Gen- 
“ tlemen whose turn it shall be to attend there. 

i 

V ' I 


II.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 187 

“ IX. He is also to inform himself and give 
“ notice to the'whole Band to attend whenever 
u the King gives any Audiences, or receives 
“ addresses on the Throne. And also for the 
“ whole Band to attend every Christmas Day, 
<e New Year’s Day, Twelfth Day, the King and 
u Queen’s Birth Days, and the Birth Days of 
“ their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess 
“ of Wales. 

“ X. Whenever the Captain, or in his ab- 
“ sence, the next Commanding Officer shall 
66 give any orders, and the same be communicated 
“ by the Clerk of the Cheque to the Axe-Keeper, 
“ he is to acquaint the Officers and the rest of 
“ the Band with the same.” 

The Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, having 
been so long an appendage to the King’s state 
one does not expect to hear again of Musters, 
Horses, Anns, &c. but the internal disquietude 
of the northern parts of the kingdom had, in the 
year 1745, so nearly called the King into the 
Field, that the Band actually received an Order 
from Sir William Wynne the Lieutenant, in the 
absence of Lord Hobart, (the Captain) to prepare 


188 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 

themselves to attend His Majesty, who had 
resolved to set up his Standard on Finchley 
Common. The decisive battle of Culloden, 
gained by his Royal Highness William Duke of 
Cumberland, prevented the King from taking 
the Field. The following is the Order sent by 
the Clerk of the Cheque to each Ger. man to 
accompany the Royal Standard. 

December 5, 1745. 

“ Sir, 

“ The Rebels having advanced to 
“ Derby, the King has signified his intention 
“ to set up his Standard on Finchley Common; 
“ you are therefore commanded to acquaint the 
“ Gentlemen of the Band to be in readiness 
<<r with their Servants, Horses, and Arms to 
“ attend His Majesty there. 

“ I am, Sir, 

“ Your Friend and humble Servant, 

William Wynne.”* * 

_ 

* fi Lord Hobart, who w r as at this time Captain of the 

* s Band, being Lord Lieutenant of the County of Norfolk, 
“ and then employed in His Majesty’s service in the said 
“ County j Sir William Wynne, the Lieutenant of the Gen- 
“ tlemen Pensioners, w 7 ho was the Commanding Officer in 
“ Lord Hobart’s absence, issued the order.” 




II.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


189 


Lord Hobart, the Captain, in 1751, directed 
that light grey stockings should be worn by the 
Band, instead of scarlet, (which had previously 
been ordered to he worn on the birth day of 
George I. May 28, 1726) and the order further 
prescribed brigadier perukes and buckskin gloves. 

Lord Berkeley, the Captain, in 1760, directed 
the Clerk of the Cheque to transmit the following 
Notice to the Band, for nominating an Axe Keeper 
and Messenger. 

“ Sir, 

“ By the death of Mr. Higgs, the 
“ place of Axe Keeper and Messenger to the 
“ Band of Gentlemen Pensioners becomes va- 
“ cant. Lord Berkeley has generously given 
“ the Gentlemen leave to nominate any person 
“ they shall all agree on:—therefore I am de- 
“ sired to acquaint you by some of the Band, 
“ that they have appointed a General Meeting to 
“ be held at the Thatched House Tavern, St. 
“ James’s Street, on Monday next the 29th 
(c September, at Four o’clock—you are expected 


/ 


190 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 

“ to attend the same. This is sent to all the 
i( Gentlemen. 

X . t ' \ 

“ I am, Sir, 

s * • 

0 

u Your humble Servant, 

“ J. N. Smith, 

“ Clerk of the Cheque/' 

Nothing further occurs during this reign wor¬ 
thy of mention, with the exception of the Minute 
of Council and the Ceremonial of Proceedings on 
the Interment of His late Majesty George II. 

“ At the Council Chanber, Whitehall, the 1st 
“ day of November 1760. 

“ By the Right Honourable the Lords of the 
“ Committee of Council appointed to con- 
“ sider of His late Majesty’s Funeral:— 

“ It is this day ordered by their Lordships, 
u that the Right Honourable the Lord Berkeley, 
“ of Stratton, Captain of the Band of Pensioners, 
u do direct the said Band to attend at the foot of 
“ the Prince’s Chamber at Westminster, at seven 
“ o’clock in the evening of the eleventh instant, 
“ being the time appointed for the Interment of 
u His late Majesty, in order to receive the body. 



It ] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 191 

and to be afterwards disposed of in the following 
“ manner, viz. that ten of the said Band do march 
“ with their Axes reversed on one side of the 
“ canopy which is to be carried over His late 
Majesty's body, and ten on the other side in 
“ the like manner ; and the remaining part of 
u the Band, with their Axes erect, do fall in 
“ at the close of the procession, next before the 
“ Yeomen of the Guard. 

W. Sharpe.” 

On Monday the 10th of November 1760, the 
royal corpse of George II. was conveyed from 
Kensington Palace to the Prince’s Chamber, near 
the House of Lords, in the following order, viz. 

The Right Honourable the Earl of Rochford’s coach, with six 
horses, several servants behind in livery, 
with lighted torches. 

The Honourable Mr. Finch’s coach, with two horses, one 

t 

servant behind in livery, with a torch. 

His Grace the Duke of Devonshire’s chariot, with six horses, 
several servants behind in livery, 
with torches. 

Two horse grenadiers—their swords drawn. 

Two of the royal coaches, in mourning, with six horses each, 
the servants behind in mourning, with torches. 


I 


192 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [Georgt 

A large party of horse grenadiers, 

• * 

A royal coach in mourning, with six horses, the servants behind 

in mourning, with torches. 

The royal hearse, covered with purple velvet, finely orna¬ 
mented with carved w ork. The royal arms being at the 
upper part on each side, and adorned at the top w 7 ith 
several crowns. It was drawn by eight cream coloured 
horses, with large purple velvet trappings, and followed 
by the royal trumpeters, in their rich habits, sounding a 
dead march, and a large party of the life guards. 

The procession was closed by one of the royal coaches out of 
mourning, with the blinds up, drawn by two horses, ^and 
one servant behind in a royal livery frock, with a torch. 

On each side of all the royal carriages, except the last, a train 
of men walked in black cloaks, with lighted torches in 
their hands. 

At about a quarter past nine o’clock the procession entered the 
Green Park, from Hyde Park, and passed slowly on 
through the Horse Guards to the grand entrance into the 
House of Lords, where the royal corpse w 7 as taken out 
and carried up to the chamber, where it lay in state. 

The following inscription, in Latin, was put upon His late 
Majesty’s coffin: 

Depositum 

Serenissimi, Potentissimi, 
et Excellentissimi Monarch® 

GEORGII SECUNDI, 

Dei Gratia, Magn® Britanniae, Franci®, et Hiberni® Regis, 
Fidei defensoris; Ducis et Brunsvici et Lunenburgi, 
Sacri Romani Imperii Archi-thesaurarii et Principis 
Electoris, 

Obiit 25 Die Octobris, Anno Domini 1/60, /Etatis suie 77. 

Regnique sui 34. 


II.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


193 


[THUS ENGLISHED :] 

Here lie deposited 

The remains of the most Serene, most Mighty, and most 

Excellent Monarch, 

GEORGE THE SECOND, 

By the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and 
Ireland, Defender of the Faith; Duke of Brunswick and 
Lunenburg, Arch-treasurer and Prince Elector of the 
Holy Roman Empire. 

He died the 25th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1760, 
in the 77th year of his age, and in the'34th year of his 
reign. 

The evening following, Tuesday the 11th, about 
nine o’clock, the royal corpse was carried from 
the Prince’s Chamber to Westminster Abbey, 
and interred in the royal vault in Henry the 
Seventh’s Chapel. The procession was very 
grand and solemn, # according to the Ceremonial 

issued by the Earl Marshal. 

* 

Knight Marshal’s Men, with black Staves—two and two. 

Pages of the Presence. 

• ■* ■ ■■ - — — —— - - - -- ■■■■ — ■■■ ■ ■■■■-- - ■ — 

* His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland was Chief 
Mourner, and his train was borne by the Dukes of Newcastle 
and Bridgewater. Minute guns were fired at the Tower and 
Park, and the bells in every parish tolled during the whole 
ceremony. Two thousand foot guards, and two hundred and 
fifty horse, lined the platform. 


o 



194 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


['George 


Pages of the Back Stairs. 
Pages of the Bed Chamber. 


Yeomen of the Robes. 


Gentlemen Ushers Quarter Waiters. 


Pages of Honour. 


Grooms of the Privy Chamber. 


Gentleman Usher Assistant. 

Gentlemen Ushers Daily Waiters. 

Physicians to the King. 

Deputy Clerks of the Closet. 

Equerries to His late Majesty. 

Clerks, Comptrollers, and Clerks of the Green Cloth. 
The Master of the King’s Household. 

Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber. 

King’s Counsel. King’s Serjeant. 

King’s Solicitor. King's Attorney. 

Prime Serjeant. 

Barons Younger Sons. 

Viscounts Younger Sons. 

Barons of the Exchequer, and Justices of both Benches, 
according to their seniority. 

Lord Chief Baron. Lord Chief Justice of Common 


Pleas went as a Privy 
Counsellor. 

Lord Chief Justice of the King’s 
Bench, being a Peer, 
walked as such. 


Master of the Rolls 
went as a 
Privy Counsellor. 


Bath King at Arms. 

Knights of the Bath, not Lords, nor Privy Counsellors. 


II.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


195 


Privy Counsellors, not Peers of the Realm. 

Barons Eldest Sons. 

Earls Younger Sons. 

Viscounts Eldest Sons. 

The Comptroller of the The Treasurer of the 

King’s Household, - King’s Household, 

(with their staves) 

Being a Peer, Being a Peer of Ireland, 

walked as such. walked as such. 

Two Pursuivants. 

Barons of Ireland. 

Barons of Great Britain. 

Bishops, in their Rochets. 

Marquisses Younger Sons. 

Earls Eldest Sons. 

A Pursuivant. 

Viscounts of Ireland. 

Viscounts of Great Britain. 

Dukes Younger Sons. 

Marquisses Eldest Sons. 

One Herald of Arms. 

Earls of Ireland. 

Earls of Great Britain. 

Earl of Effingham, as exercising the office of Earl Marshal of 

England. 

Dukes Eldest Sons. 

One Herald of Arms. 

Marquisses. 

One Herald of Arms. 


196 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


[George 


Dukes. 


One Herald of Arms. 


Dukes having great offices. 

Lord Privy Seal. 

Lord President of the Council. 

Lord Archbishop of York (no train borne.) 

Lord Keeper, bearing the Purse, 

(no train borne, nor mace carried.) 

Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, 

(no train borne.) 

Norroy King of Arms. 

Master of the Horse. 

Second Gentleman Clarencieux King of 
Usher Arms, carrying 

Daily Waiter. the Crown on a 

Purple Velvet Cushion. 

Lord Chamberlain of the Household, with his white staff. 


First Gentleman 
Usher 

Daily Waiter. 


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THE ROYAL BODY, 

Carried by Twelve Yeomen of 
the Guard, covered with a 
large Pall of purpleVelvet, 
and lined with purple Silk, 
with a fine Holland Sheet, 
adorned with Ten large 
Escutcheons of the Impe¬ 
rial Arms painted on Satin, 
under a Canopy of purple 
Velvet. 


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Gentleman Usher. 


Garter Principal 
King 
of Arms. 


Gentleman Usher of 
the Black Rod, 
the Rod reversed. 



II. J GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


191 


The Chief Mourner 


Supporter his. Train borne by 

* \ i _ 

to the Two Dukes, 


Supporter 
to the 


Chief Mourner, assisted by the 

a Duke. Vice Chamberlain. 


Chief Mourner 
a Duke 


Two Dukes and fourteen Earls, Assistants to the Chief Mourner. 
First Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber. 

Groom of the Stole. 

Lords of the Bed Chamber. 

Second Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber. 

The Master of the Robes. 

The Grooms of the Bed Chamber. 

The remaining part of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, with 


their Axes reversed. 

Yeomen of the Guard to close the Ceremony. 


The procession went from the Prince s Chamber, through 
the Old Palace Yard, on foot, to the great north door of the 
Abbey ; and the way was railed in on both sides, and floored, 
twenty feet wide, and was covered with an awning, with black 
baize on the floor, and under the awning - and the whole way 
to the Abbey, and in the Abbey, to the steps leading to King 
Henry the Seventh’s Chapel, was lined on each side with the 
foot guards. 

The procession having entered the church, passed along 
down to the end of the north aisle, and then cross to the south 
aisle, and from thence to the said steps, and there fell off on 
each side, until the Judges, the Knights of the Bath, the 
Privy Counsellors, the Peers, the Body, and Chief Mourner, 
&c. were placed in King Henry the Seventh’s Chapel. 

At the entrance within the church, the Dean and Preben- 
daries in their copes, attended by the choir, all having wax 


198 




THE HONOURABLE BAND OE \_George 

\ 

tapers in their hands, received the royal body, and fell into 
the procession just before Clarencieux King of Arms, and so 
proceeded singing into King Henry the Seventh’s Chapel, 
where the body was deposited on tressels, (the crown and 
cushion being laid at the head) and the canopy held over it by 
the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, while the service ac¬ 
cording to the Liturgy of the Church of England was read by 
the Bishop of Rochester, Dean of Westminster ; and the 
Chief Mourner, and his two supporters, were seated on chairs 
placed for them at the head of the corpse; and the Lords 
Assistants seated on stools on each side , and the Lords of the 
Bedchamber, &c. were seated; and the Peers and others took 
their seats in the stalls on each side of the choir. 

When the part of the service before the Interment was read, 
the royal corpse was carried to the vault, preceded by the Lord 
Chamberlain of the Household, the Chief Mourner, his sup¬ 
porters and assistants following, Garter going before them, 
and the White Staff Officers of His late Majesty’s Household, 
who placed themselves near the vault. 

The royal corpse being interred, the Dean of Westminster 
went on with the office of burial, which ended, and an anthem 
sung in the choir. Garter King of Arms proclaimed His late 
Majesty’s Stile as followeth : 

(f Thus it hath pleased Almighty God to take out of this 
“ transitory life unto his divine mercy, the late most High, 
<e most Mighty, and most Excellent Monarch George the Second, 
by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and 
<( Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and Sovereign of the Most 
“ Noble Order of the Garter, Duke of Brunswick and Lu- 
“ nenburg. Arch-treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman 
(< Empire. 

“ Let us beseech Almighty God to bless and preserve, with 
long life, health, and honour, and all worldly happiness. 


I 


f 


II.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 199 

' •I 

the most High and most Excellent Monarch, our Sovereign 
Lord George the Third j now, by the Grace of God, King 
* c of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the 
<( Faith, and Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the 
Garter, Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Arch;treasurer 
4< and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire. 

ct God save King George the Third.’* 


Note —The Knights of the Garter, Thistle, and Bath, who 
walked in this procession, wore the Collars of their respective 
Orders. 



The following Officers and Gentlemen of the Honourable 
Band, at the demise of the late King in 1760, were re-sworn 
on the accession of George III. 

* 

Captain —Lord Berkeley of Stratton. 

Lieutenant —H. Powell, Esq. M.P. 

Standard Bearer —J. Bridger, jun. Esq. v 
Clerk of the Cheque —C. C. Calvert, Esq. 

Gentleman Harbinger —Mr. Chauveh 
Paymaster —S. Cade, Esq. 

! / fif . 

Gentlemen Pensioners who waited the following Quarters :—* 


New Year and Midsummer . 
Sir A.Chadwick J. Clark 


O. Jones 
J. Ferrett 
R. Wool 
F. Deze 
H. Bingley 
W. Brathwaite 
«T. Davis 
J. Simms 
T. Jones 


Esquires . 


N. Stephenson 
G. Gosset 
B. Prideanx 
W. Sands 
T. Pultney 
T. Brereton 
T. Banks 
J. Bullockv 
R. Bridger 


Lady Day and Michaelmas. 


G. Hatley 
S. Aveline 

H. Longland 
J. Wise 

P. Leggc 
J. George 
E. Coombe 
R. England 
W. Deacle 
J. Feast 


T. Salmon 
G. Durant 
J. Pearson 

J. Moone 
W. Hervatt 
E, West 
B. Berwick 
E. Cock 
T. Wilkinson 

K. Town lev 
Esquires. 









V 


200 the honourable band of [ George 

'' * x 


His present Majesty King George III. on his* 
accession was pleased to confirm all the ancient 
privileges and honours enjoyed by the servants of 

his predecessors, by the following Proclamation : 

* » . \ • 

At the Court at St. James's, 13 ih January 1761. 

Present, 

The King’s most Excellent Majesty in Council. 

“ Whei 'eas His Majesty’s Royal Predecessors 
“ were pleased, from time to time, by their 
“ respective Orders made in Council, to declare 
“ and signify their pleasure, that their Servants 
(C should have and enjoy all antient liberties, 

“ rights, and privileges ; and that none of their 
“ servants in ordinary, with fee, should be en- 
“ forced or obliged to bear any public office, 
* e serve on juries or inquests, or be subjected unto 

i 

“ any mulct or fine for not submitting thereunto; 
“ His Majesty this day taking the same into, 
“ consideration, and thinking it reasonable that 
“ all his servants in ordinary, with fee, should in 


N 




I 


III] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 201 

“ regard to their constant attendance upon His 
“ Majesty’s person, enjoy the like privileges 
cc with those of his predecessors, doth therefore 
“ hereby order, with the advice of his Privy 
“ Council, that the Lord Chamberlain of His 
“ Majesty’s Household, in relation to such of 
iC His Majesty’s servants, who are under his 
4C Grace’s * command above stairs; and the 
“ Lord Steward of His Majesty’s Household, and 
“ in his absence. His Majesty’s Officers of the 
“ Green Cloth, as to such as are accounted 
“ Officers below stairs ; and the Master of the 
“ Horse for the Servants belonging to the Stables 
“ do respectively signify unto the Lord Mayor of 
“ London, and to His Majesty’s Justices of the 
44 Peace within the Citv of Westminster, Coun- 
“ ties of Middlesex and Surrey, and to the 
44 Mayors, Sheriffs and Bailiffs of any Corporation 
• 4 or County, and to all such as may be therein 
44 concerned, whensoever there shall be cause for 
44 asserting the said privilege; that His Majesty 
u hath thought proper, conformable to the ex- 


* The Duke of Devonshire. 




202 THE HONOUR4BLE BAND OF [Georg* 

“ ample of his predecessors in this belalf, to 
“ order and require, that his servants should have, 
<e hold, and enjoy all the said liberties, rights, 
u and privileges; and that henceforward none of 
his servants in ordinary, with fee, be enforced, 
“ or any ways obliged to bear any public offices, 
“ serve on juries or inquests, watch or ward, in 
<c any place where they dwell, or elsewhere, nor 
“ subject to any mulct or fine for not submitting 
u thereunto ; and the Lord Chamberlain of His 
“ Majesty’s Household, for those Servants above 
“ stairs ; the Lord Steward of His Majesty’s 
Cf Household, and in his absence His Majesty’s 
“ Officers of the Green Cloth for the servants 
“ below stairs ; and the Master of the Horse for 
“ the servants belonging to the Stables, are 
cc hereby authorized and required to take especial 
“ care, that this His Majesty’s pleasure be duly 
“ observed and put in execution; and that His 
“ Majesty’s Attorney General, for the time being, 
cc be, and he is hereby authorized and required, 
“ upon any application made to him by any of 
“ His Majesty’s servants in ordinary, with fee, to 
“ cause a stop to be put to all proceedings already 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


203 


III] 

“ had, or to be commenced against them, or any 
* c of them, for refusing to watch, or serve on 
(C juries, or bear or undergo any public office or 
employment above mentioned :—and His Ma- 
“ jesty doth hereby further order, that Copies of 
“ this order be left with the respective Clerks of 

• c the Peace of the Cities of London and West- 

r 

minster, and Counties of Middlesex and Surrey, 
“ to be kept amongst the records of his Majesty’s 
66 Sessions, to the intent that due obedience may 
“ be given thereunto, and his servants may not 
* c be vexed with unreasonable proceedings. 

“ W. Blair.” 

On September 8, 1761, the Band assembled 
to attend the marriage of PI is Majesty with Her 
Most Serene Highness Princess Charlotte of 
Mecklenburgh Strelitz; and it will be observed 
on that occasion, the most interesting to His 
Majesty and the nation, the Band had the honour 
to guard his sacred person. About eight o’clock 
in the evening (Her Majesty having arrived at 
St. James’s Palace about three in the afternoon) 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 



[George 


the procession to the Chapel Royal began in the 
following order: 

The Procession of the BRIDE. 

Drums and Trumpets. 

The Serjeant Trumpeter. 

The Princess’s Servants. 

A Page. 

A Quarter Waiter. 

A Gentleman Usher between the Two Senior Heralds, 

Vice Chamberlain. 

Maids of Honour. 

Ladies of the Bed Chamber, not Peeresses. 
Peeresses. 

Unmarried Daughters of Peers. % 

\ 

The King’s The King’s 

Vice Chamberlain. Lord Chamberlain. 

The BRIDE, in her nuptial habit, supported by their Royal 
Highnesses the Duke of York and Prince William j her 
Train borne by ten unmarried daughters of Dukes and 
Earls, viz. 


Lady Sarah Lenox. 

Lady Ann Hamilton. 
Lady Harriot Bentinck, 
Lady Elizabeth Keppel. 
Lady Elizabeth Harcourt. 


Lady Caroline Russel. 
Lady Elizabeth Ker. 
Lady Carolina Montagu. 
Lady Louisa Greville. 
Lady Susan Strangways. 


Her Serene Highness having been in this manner conducted 
to the Chapel, the Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain, 
with the Two Heralds, returned to wait upon His Majesty, 


III.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


205 


The KJNG's Procession . 

Drums and Trumpets, as before. 

The Knight Marshal. 

Pursuivants and Heralds at Arms. 

Knights of the Bath, not Peers, wearing their collars. 
Privy Counsellors, not Peers. 

Comptroller of the Household. Treasurer of the Household 

Barons. 

Bishops. 

Viscounts. 

Earls. 

The Lord Steward of the Household, being an Earl. 


H 

Marquisses. 

UO 

* ^ 

& © 

Dukes. 

S3 

£ * 
<0 a 

>w 

B Sr* 

Norroy and Clarencieux, Kings of Arms. 

•r*> S 
Jr; *-< 

a> 

• g 

Lord Privy Seal. 

P ta 
& 

Ut 

Lord President. 

r« 


Lord Chancellor. 

Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. 

. £ 

Garter, principal King of Arms, with his white rod or sceptre, 
between Two Gentlemen Ushers. 

The Earl Marshal. 

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland. 

His Royal Highness Prince Frederick. 

His Royal Highness Prince Henry. 

The Sword of State, 

borne by the Duke of Bedford, Knight of the Garter, in his 
collar, between the Lord Chamberlain and Vice 

Chamberlain. 


206 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 

The KING, wearing his collar. 

Captain of the Yeomen Captain of the Captain of the Band 
of Guard. Life Guard. of Pensioners. 

The Gentlemen of the Bed Chamber in waiting. 

The Master of the Robes. 

Two Grooms of the Bedchamber. 

Gentlemen Pensioners. 


The Procession returned in the following Order: 

i 

Drums and Trumpets. 

Serjeant Trumpeter. 

The Queen’s Servants, 

~ A Page. 

A Quarter Waiter. 

A Gentleman Usher between Two Heralds. 
Pursuivants and Heralds at Arms. 
Knights of the Bath, not Peers. 

Privy Counsellors, not Peers. 
Unmarried Daughters of Peers. 
Peeresses. 

• JL , , ; . * 

Peers as before. 

. j -\ 

Norroy and Clarencieux, Kings of Arms. 
Lord Privy Seal. 

Lord President. 

Lord Chancellor. 

Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. 




III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 207 

Garter, between Two Gentlemen Ushers. 

The Earl Marshal. 

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland. 

His Royal Highness Prince Frederick. 

His Royal Highness Prince Henry. 

The Sword of State, 

between the Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain. 

The KING. 

The Three Captains of the Guard. 

The Gentleman of the Bedchamber in waiting. 

Master of the Rolls. 

Two Grooms of the Bedchamber. 

The QUEEN, 

Conducted by the Lord Chamberlain and Vice Chamberlain, 
supported by their Royal Highnesses the Duke of York 
and Prince William—her train borne as before. 

The Lady of Her Majesty’s Bed Chamber in waiting. 

Maids of Honour. 

Gentlemen Pensioners. 


The preceding account of the procession on 
the marriage of their present Majesties, with the 
subsequent one of the Coronation, are extracted 
from the London Gazette of 1761. 




208 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 

On the 22nd of September 1761 , His Majesty 
King George III. and his consort Queen Char¬ 
lotte were crowned in the Abbey Church of 
Westminster, with the ceremonies accustomed 
upon that great and glorious solemnity:—the 
Band had the honour of attending in the pro¬ 
cession, and w r ere their immediate body guard. 

His Majesty went privately to the Prince’s 
Chamber, and the Queen to Black Rod’s Room, 
near the House of Peers, about nine o’clock. 
The Peers assembled in their own House, the 
Peeresses and the Dukes of Normandy and 
Aquitaine in the Painted Chamber, the rest in 
the Court of Request. 

About eleven o’clock the procession was drawn 
out into Westminster Hall, which was soon after 
followed by their Majesties, who seated them¬ 
selves in the chairs of state under their canopies. 

Then the swords and spurs were presented and 
laid upon the table, and the regalia brought up in 
procession by the Dean and Prebendaries of 
Westminster; which being severally presented 
and laid upon the table, were afterwards delivered 
by the Lord Great Chamberlain to the Lords 


III.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


209 


appointed to carry them, being summoned by 
Garter ; as also the Bishops appointed to support 
their Majesties, and who were to carry the Bible, 
the Chalice, and Paten. 

The Procession then went on in the following Order: 

The King’s Herb Woman, with her Six Maids, strewing 

the way with herbs. 

« 

The Dean’s Beadle of Westminster, with his staff. 

The High Constable of Westminster, with his staff, in a 

scarlet cloak. 

A fife. 

Four drums. 

The Drum-major. 

Eight trumpets. 

A kettle drum. 

Eight trumpets. 

The Serjeant Trumpeter. 

The Six Clerks in Chancery, 

The Closet Keeper of the Chapel Royal. 

The King’s Chaplains—having dignities. 

Sheriffs of London. 

Aldermen of London. 

Masters in Chancery. 

The King’s Serjeants at Law. 

The Solicitor General. The Attorney General. 

The King’s Ancient Serjeant. 

Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber. 

Barons of the Exchequer and Justices of both Benches— 

two and two. 

P 


210 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


[George 

Chief Baron of the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, 

Exchequer. being a Privy Counsellor, 

went as such. 

Master of the Rolls, being Chief Justice of the King’s 

a Privy Counsellor, Bench (Lord Mansfield) 

went as such. went as a Peer. 

Children of the Choir of Westminster, in surplices. 

Serjeant of the Vestry, Serjeant Porter, 
in scarlet gowns. 

Children of the Chapel Royal, in surplices, with scarlet 

mantles over them. 

Choir of Westminster, in surplices. 

Organ Blower. Groom of the Vestry. 

Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal, in scarlet mantles. 

The Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal, in a scarlet gown. 

Prebendaries of Westminster, in surplices and rich copes. 

t 

The Dean of Westminster, in a surplice and rich cope. 

The Master of the Jewel House, with one of his officers going 

by him, both in scarlet. 

Two Pursuivants of Scotland. 

Bath King of Arms, in his habit of the order, and crown in 

his hand. 

Knights of the Bath, not Peers, in the full habit of the order, 
two and two, carrying their caps and feathers in 

their hands. 

/ 

Bluemantle Pursuivant. Rougedragon Pursuivant. 
Privy Counsellors, not Peers. 

His Majesty’s Vice-Chamberlain, Hon. William Finch, Esq. 

Comptroller of the Household, Treasurer of the Household, 
Earl Powis, Earl of Thoinond. 

went as a Peer. 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS 


211 


III.] 

Rougecroix Pursuivant. Portcullis Pursuivant. 
Heralds of Scotland. 

Baronesses, in their robes of estate ; their coronets in their 

hands. 

Barons, in their robes of estate; their coronets in their hands. 
Norfolk Herald Extraordinary. 

Bishops, in their rochets ; their caps in their hands. 
Blanch Coursier Herald. Brunswick Herald. 

■v 

Viscountesses, in their robes of estate ; their coronets in their 

hands. 

% 

Viscounts, in their robes of estate ; their coronets in their hands. 

Lancaster Herald. Somerset Herald. 

Countesses, in their robes of estate ; their coronets in their 

hands. 

Earls, in their robes of estate ; their coronets in their hands. * 

Windsor Herald. Richmond Herald. 

Marchionesses, in their robes of estate; their coronets in their 

hands. 

Marquisses, in their robes of estate; their coronets in their 

hands. 

York Herald. Chester Herald. 

Duchesses, in their robes of estate; their coronets in their 

hands. 

Dukes, in their robes of estate; their coronets in their hands. 

The Lord Chamberlain of the Household, Duke of Devonshire. 

Ulster, Clarencieux, Norroy—King of Arms. 

Lord Privy Seal, in his robes Lord Chancellor, in his robes 
of estate; his coronet in his of estate, and coronet in his 
hand, Earl Temple. hand, bearing the purse. 

Lord Henley. 



THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


[<George 


Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, in his rochet; with his cap 
in his hand. Dr. Thomas Seeker. 

Two Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, in proper mantles, their 
hats in their hands, representing the Dukes of 
Aquitane, Normandy, 

Sir William Breton. Sir Tho. Robinson, Bart. 

The Queen’s Vice-Chamberlain, Lord Viscount Cantalupe. 


Two Gentlemen Ushers. 


The Ivory Rod with 
the Dove, borne 
by the Earl of 
Northampton, 
in his robes of 
estate. 


The Queen’s Lord 
Chamberlain, 
Duke of Man¬ 
chester, in his 
robes, with his 
coronet and staff 
in his hand. 


The Sceptre with 

' ✓ 

the Cross, borne 
by the Duke of 
Rutland, in his 
robes of estate. 


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The Queen’s Crown, borne by the 
Duke of Bolton, in his robes of 
estates. 


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The QUEEN, 



In her royal robes (on her head a 


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circlet of gold adorned with 

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jewels) going under a canopy 

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of cloth of gold, borne by six- 
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her train supported by Her 

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Royal Highness Princess Au¬ 
gusta, in her robes of estate. 

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assisted by six earls daughters : 



Lady Mary Grey, Lady Selina Hastings, 

Lady Eliz. Montague, Lady Heneage Finch, 

Lady Jane Steuart, Lady Mary Douglas. 


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III] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 2Io 

Princess’s Coronet, borne by the Marquis of Carnarvon. 
Duchess of Ancaster, Mistress of the Robes. 

Two Women of Her Majesty’s Bed Chamber. 


St. Edward’s Staff, 
borne by the 
Duke of Kings¬ 
ton, in his robes. 

The Third Sword, 
borne by the 
Earl of Suther¬ 
land, in his robes. 


The King's Regalia : 

The Golden Spurs, 
borne by theEarl 
of Sussex, in his 
robes. 

Curtana, borne by 
the Earl of Lin¬ 
coln, in his robes. 


The Sceptre with 
the Cross, borne 
by the Duke of 
Marlborough, in 
his robes. 

The Second Sword, 
borne by the 
Earl of Suffolk, 
in his robes. 


Usher of the 


Lord Mayor 

Lyon King 

of Loudon, 

of Arms of 

in his gown. 

Scotland, 

collar, and 

carrying his 

jewel, bear¬ 

crown in his 

ing the City 

hand, John 

Mace, Sir 

Campbell 

Matthew 

Hooke, Esq. 

Blackiston. 



White Rod. 


Garter prin¬ 

Gentleman 

cipal King 

Usher of 

of Arms, his 

the Black 

crown in his 

Rod, with 

hand, Ste¬ 

his Rod, 

phen Martin 

Sir Sep¬ 

Leake, Esq. 

timus 

Robinson. 


The Lord Great Chamberlain of England, in his robes of estate, 
and coronet and white staff in his hands. 


His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, in his robes of 
estate, and coronet in his hand ; his train borne by 

His Royal Highness the Duke of York, in his robes of estate, 
and coronet in his hand 5 his train borne by Col. Brudenell. 




2J4 THE HONOUR ABLE BAND OF 


Earl Marshal, 
in his robes, 
with his co¬ 
ronet & Earl 
Marshal’s 
Staff, Earl of 
Effingham. 


The Sword 
of State, 
borne by 
the Earl of 
Hunting¬ 
don, in his 
robes. 


Lord High Con¬ 
stable of En¬ 
gland, in his 
robes, with his 
coronet and 
staff, Duke of 
Bedford. 


[George 

High Consta¬ 
ble of Scot¬ 
land, in his 
robes, with 
his coronet 
& staff, Earl 
of Erroll. 


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The Sceptre 
with the 
Dove, borne 
by the Duke 
of Rich¬ 
mond, in 
his robes. 

The Paten, 
by the 
Bishop of 
Rochester. 


St. Edward’s 
Crown, borne 
by the Lord 
High Stew¬ 
ard, in his 
robes, Earl 
Talbot. 

The Bible, 
carried by 
the Bishop 
of Carlisle. 


The Orb, 
borne by 
the Duke 
of Somer¬ 
set, in his 
robes. 

The Chalice, 
by the 
Bishop of 
Chester. 


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The KING, 

In his royal robes (on his head a cap 

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of estate, adorned with jewels) 

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gold, borne by sixteen Barons of 

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the Cinque Ports ; his train sup¬ 

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ported by six Lords, eldest sons 

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of Peers : 

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Viscount Mandeville 
Lord Howard, 

Lord Beauchamp, 


Marquis of Hartington 
Lord Grey, 

Lord Newnham. 


And, at the end of it, the Master of the Robes, Henry James 

Brudenell. 


I 











m.j 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


3i5 


■p Captain of the Captain of the Captain of the «** jj> gj 

® ' -j-* ^ 

Band of Gen- £ S 


a - 

P a a 

f? B 

§ WS. 

as 

5’3 W 
a a- ft) 

t; © >-j 
« 2 


Yeomen of 
the Guard, 
in his robes. 


Horse in 
waiting, in 
his robes. 


S 0 ) o 


tlemen Pen- a w 2 

/IS *. ** 

sioners. 


• ^ o £ 

111 

• jju rj 

his robes. *-? a v 
PQ 2 


A Gentleman of the King’s Bed Chamber. 
Two Grooms of the Bed Chamber. 


Ensign of the Yeomen 
of the Guard. 


Lieutenant of the Yeomen 
of the Guard. 

Exempts. The Yeomen of the Guard. Exempts. 

The Clerk of the Cheque to the Yeomen of the Guard. 


Note —All the Peers in the Procession were in their robes 
of estate ; and being Knights of the Garter, Thistle, or Bath, 
wore the Collars of their respective Orders., 


I 

“ About half an hour after one, their Majesties 
6( entered the Abbey, and went to their seats on 
“ the east side of the throne. The Archbishop 
“ of Canterbury made the recognition, and then 
“ their Majesties made the first oblation, and 
“ took their scats on the south side of the altar. 
“ Then the Litany began; during which, the 
u Regalia were severally presented at the Altar, 
“ and the Great Officers retired to their seats. 






216 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 

“ The Litany being ended, and part of the 
cc Communion Service read by the Archbishop, 
“ Dr. Drummond, Bishop of Salisbury, preached 
“ the sermon ;* which being ended, His Majesty 
“ made the usual Declaration, and took and sub- 
“ scribed the Coronation Oath. 

“ After Feni Creator , His Majesty removed to 
“ St. Edward’s Chair; and the Unction was per- 
“ formed by the Archbishop; four Knights of 
“ the Garter holding a pall over His Majesty 
“ during the anointing, viz. the Duke of Devon- 
“ shire, Earl of Northumberland, Earl of Hert- 
“ ford, and Earl Waldegrave. The Spurs were 
“ then presented, and His Majesty girt with the 

I V 

“ Sword, which was afterwards offered and re- 
“ deemed. 

“ H is Majesty was then invested with the 
(C Armill, the Purple Robe or Imperial Pall, and 


* Dr. Drummond was nominated to the See of York; his 
Sermon was printed :—he preached from 1 Kings x. verse 9 , 
Blessed be the Lord thy God which delighteth in thee, to set 
thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for 
ever, therefore made he thee king to do judgment and justice . 
At the beginning of the Sermon, His Majesty put on his cap 
of crimson velvet, turned up with ermine. 





III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 217 

“ Orb; and afterwards receiving the Ring, re- 
<c turned the Orb to the Altar. 

“ The Marquis of Rockingham, Deputy to 
“ the Duke of Norfolk, as Lord of the Manor of 
“ Worksop, presented a right hand Glove to 
“ His Majesty, who, putting it on, received from 
<c the Archbishop the Sceptre with the Cross, 
i( and afterwards the Sceptre with the Dove, into 
“ his left hand ; and the Marquis did afterwards 
“ support His Majesty’s right hand, as occasion 
“ required. 

“ The Archbishop then set the Crown upon 
“ His Majesty’s head, about half an hour after 
“ three o’clock, amidst the acclamations of an 
“ infinite number of spectators ; upon which the 
€C Peers put on their coronets, the Dukes of Nor- 
“ mandy and Aquitaine their hats ; the Bishops, 
iC Knights of the Bath, and Judges, their caps; 
te and the Kings of Arms, their crowns. 

“ Then the Archbishop presented the Bible, 
“ and pronounced the Benediction ; and His 
“ Majesty kissed the Bishops, kneeling before 
(( him. 

“ Whilst Te Deum was singing, His Majesty 

* 

\ 

_ « 

* " v • 


218 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [GeOTgt 

“ was inthroned; whereupon the Bishops per- 

“ formed their homage, and then the Temporal 

/• 

“ Lords ; first His Royal Highness the Duke of 
“ York, and His Royal Highness the Duke of 
“ Cumberland, each for himself. Then the Duke 

r-' , 

“ of Devonshire, Lord Chamberlain, pronounced 
cc the words of the homage for all the Dukes; 
a the Marquis of Rockingham for the Mar- 
u quisses; Earl Talbot, Lord High Steward, for 
tc the Earls; Viscount Say and Sele, for the 
“ Viscounts; and Lord Henley, Lord High 
“ Chancellor, for the Barons :—every Peer like- 
<c wise taking off his coronet, touched the King’s 
“ crown, and kissed his left cheek. 

“ During the homage, His Majesty delivered 
“ the Sceptre, with the Cross, to the Marquis of 
“ Rockingham, (officiating as Lord of the Manor 
“ of Worksop) to hold. 

“ In the mean time, Medals of His Majesty 
u and the Queen were thrown about by the 
66 Treasurer of the Household. 

ce The Coronation of His Majesty being 
“ finished, the Queen removed from her seat on 
“ the south side the area, to a chair placed before 


Ill] 


gentlemen pensioners. 


219 


“ the Altar, and was anointed (four Ladies liold- 
“ ing a Pall over Her Majesty) and afterward 
“ invested with the Ring, and crowned by the 
“ Archbishop ; upon which the Peeresses put on 
“ their coronets. The Archbishop then delivered 
“ the Sceptre into her right hand, and the Ivory 
(e Rod into her left hand. 

u Their Majesties then made their second ob- 
“ lation, and received the Communion; and the 
“ final prayers being read, they retired into St. 
“ Andrew’s Chapel, where they were invested 
(e with their royal robes and crowns of state. 

“ A procession was then made back to West- 
“ minster Hall, in the same order as before, 
“ except the Ptegalia, Prebends, and Choirs, 
“ which did not return, and the Marquis of 
u Rockingham, who attended His Majesty to 
“ support his right arm. 

“ Their Majesties retired into the Court.of 
“ Wards till dinner was ready; and then sitting: 
“ in their Chairs of State, the first course was 
u brought up with the usual ceremony:—His 
“ Royal Highness the Duke of York, and His 
“ Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, 


220 the honourable band of [ George 

. v \ 

“ sitting at the end of the table, on His Majesty’s 

' ' t 

“ right hand; and Her Royal Highness the 
u Princess Augusta, at the other end of the table, 

“ on the Queen’s left hand. Before the second 
“ course, the Champion was brought up between 
u the High Constable and Earl Marshal, followed 
es by four Pages, and preceded by the Herald, 
u who pronounced the Challenge;* the Cham- 


* If any person, of what degree soever, high or low, 
<<r shall deny or gainsay. Our Sovereign Lord King George III. 
King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of 
the Faith, &c. Grandson and next Heir to our Sovereign 
“ Lord King George II. the last king deceased, to be the 
et right heir to the Imperial Crown of the realm of Great 
Britain, or that he ought not to enjoy the same, here is his 
“ Champion, who saith that he lieth, and is a false traitor, 
being ready in person to combat with him ; and in this 
quarrel will adventure his life against him, on what day 
soever shall be appointed.” After the Herald has pro- 
nounced the above Challenge, the Champion each time throws 
down his gauntlet $ which having lain some time, is returned 
to him by the Herald :—after the third Challenge, he made a 
low obeisance to His Majesty, whereupon the Cup Bearer 
brought to the King a gilt bowl of wine, with a cover ; His 
Majesty drank to the Champion, and sent him the said bowl' 
by the Cup Bearer, accompanied by his assistants ; which the 
Champion (having put on his gauntlet) received, and retiring 
a little, drank thereof, and made his humble reverence to His 




III.J GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 221 

% 

“ pion’s two Esquires, with his lance and target, 
“ two Serjeants at Arms, and the trumpets; the 
“ Knight Marshal going before to clear the 
“ passage. 

“ Immediately after the return of the Cham- 
“ pion, Garter King of Arms, attended by the 
“ rest of the Heralds, proclaimed His Majesty’s 
“ style in Latin, French, and English, three 
“ several times; first, upon the top of the steps 
“ near the table ; next, in the middle of the 
“ Hall; and, lastly, at the bottom of the Hall. 

“ The second course was then served up in the 
Cfc same order as the first. The several services, 
“ which had been allowed by the Court of Claims, 
“ were performed ; and His Majesty was pleased, 
“ after dinner, to confer the honour of knight- 
“ hood upon John Bridge, Esq. Standard Bearer, 


Majesty and being accompanied as before, rode out of the 
Hall, taking the said bowl and cover with him as his fee. 

Mr. Dymocke, the King’s Champion, who enjoys that office 
as Lord of the Manor of Scrivelsby in Lincolnshire, entered 
the Hall completely armed in one of His Majesty’s best suits 
of white armour, mounted on a fine white horse, (the same 
George II. rode at the battle of Dettingen) richly caparisoned. 


I 






222 THE HONOUR ABLE BAND OF [GeorgC 

“ and Owen Jones, Esq. # senior Gentleman of 
“ the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, and Charles 
“ Townley, Esq. Clarencieux King of Arms.” 


The Band attended their Majesties at Guildhall, 
in 1761 , as will appear by the subjoined letter: 

“ Sir, 

“ His Majesty having accepted of an invitation 
“ to dine with the Lord Mayor on the 9th of 
“ November 1761, (Lord Mayor’s Day:) by our 
“ Captain’s express commands, you are required 
“ to meet the rest of the Gentlemen of the Band 
“ by three o’clock in the afternoon, at the Paul’s 
“ Head Tavern, Cateaton Street, near Guildhall, 
“ where a dinner will be provided for the Gen- 
“ tlemen at the City’s expence, and from thence 


* It appears by an entry made in the Order Book of the 
Band, that His Majesty paid the Fees of Knighthood on the 
above occasion, for the Gentlemen belonging to the Band, 
according to ancient custom. 


I 




HI.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 223 

i( to proceed in a body, with the rest of the 
“ Gentlemen to Guildhall, there to expect their 
“ Majesties arrival. 

“ I am, Sir, 

“ Your humble Servant, 

Charles Cecil Calvert.” 

“ Oct. 6, 1761.” 

Agreeable to ancient custom the Band attended 
at the Installation of the Knights of the Garter, 
in 1762;* upon which occasion Robert Goodere, 
Esq. was knighted, after the second course of 
the King’s Dinner, which was carried up by the 
Gentlemen. The following is extracted from the 
Order Book: 

a 12th of September, 1762. 

“ Sir, 

“ In pursuance of an order from the Earl of 
(C Litchfield, I do give you notice that you must 


* The Band forms the body guard to His Majesty, at the 
Installation of the most Honourable the Knights of the Garter j 
and in 1/71, William Desse, Esq. was knighted. On that 
occasion the Captain and Officers had apartments in Windsor 
Castle and the Gentlemen's dressing and muster room was in 
the Palace, and their table in the Round Tower. 


i 



THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


[George 


COA 

I j 


cc 

a 

cc 

tc 

tt 

« 

tt 

tt 


attend at the Installation of the Knights of the 
Garter, to be held at Windsor on the 22nd of 
September; and I am ordered by his Lordship, 

that it is his express commands, that he will 

> 

not admit of any excuse; and I do also give 
you notice to be in St. George’s Chapel by nine 
o’clock in the morning of the same day. 

“ I am, Sir, 

*** 

Your humble Servant, 

Charles Cecil Calvert, 

“ Clerk of the Cheque.’* 


One old privilege of the Gentlemen Pensioners 

was, that they should be admitted to Commissions 

\ 

in tjje Army, preferably to all other persons 
whatsoever.* This remove from the Band into 
the Army was meditated at an early period of 
His present Majesty's reign, at the time the Earl 
of Litchfield had the command; but difficulties 
arose concerning rank, and the matter dropped. 


* This arrangement is conformable with what is stated in 
Lord Hunsdon’s Letter to King James I.; where the Band is 
considered as a school to qualify gentlemen for higher and more 
active employments.—Vide pages 76-79. 

i 





I 


III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 225 

i 

Mr. Burke in his Bill for the Reform of the 
Royal Household, which was brought into the 
House of Commons in the year 1782, proposed 
that no post under the command of the Captain 
of the Band should be sold, but be supplied 
thereafter by officers of the navy or army upon 
half-pay of a certain standing, (left to the deter¬ 
mination of a Parliamentary Committee) from the 
date of their first commission. This measure 
would have been fraught with private injury, 
inasmuch as the Officers (except the Captain*) as 
well as the Gentlemen of the Band then in office, 
had all bought their posts on the faith of their 
transferability, and would thereby have been tied 
down to a life-interest only, after having paid for 

t >. 

their respective purchases from One to Six 
Thousand Guineas. On the second introduction 
of the Bill, with amendments, Mr. Burke became 
sensible of the oppression involved in the first 
draft of it, and the clause alluded to with respect 


* It is customary for the Captain of the Band to be changed 
with His Majesty’s Ministers, on the formation of a new 
Administration. 

9 





226 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [GeorgC 

rO * 

to the Honourable Band was omitted; but not till 
the Band had presented the following Petition ta 

i 

the House of Commons. 

tfc To the Honourable the Commons of Great 
u Britain in Parliament assembled. 

“ The humble Petition of the Gentlemen be- 
“ longing to the Honourable Band of Pen- 
“ sioners, 

“ Shewetb, 

That your Petitioners having perused the 
Bill before this Honourable House, ‘ For 
“ 6 enabling His Majesty io discharge the debt 
“ ‘ contracted upon the Civil List Revenues, and 
“ c for preventing the same from being in arrear 
rt 6 for the future , by regulating the mode of 
“ e Payment out of the said Revenues, and by 
“ c suppressing or regulating certain offices therein 
“ 6 mentioned, which are now paid out of the 
u c Revenues of the Civil List are under the 
“ greatest concern to find it proposed to be enacted 
cc by such Bill, c That all commission and other 
“ ‘ Officers belonging to the Band of Gentlemen 
u ‘ Pensioners , under the Captain of the Band, 


III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 227 

“ c as also the vacancies in the Band of Gentlemen 
“ c Pensioners, should not he sold, hut that the 
“ ‘ Officers and private Gentlemen of the Band 
“ ‘ of Pensioners should he filed only by Officers 
" c in the Army or Navy upon half-pay 

* 

“ That your Petitioners beg leave to inform 

“ this Honourable House, that it has been cus- 

» 

“ tomary for many years past to purchase the 
<c office or place of a private Gentleman of the 
“ Band of Pensioners, and to sell the same (with 
“ the approbation of the Captain) as occasion 
“ offered: 

“ That, in confidence of being permitted to 
“ sell such office or place, your Petitioners have 
“ been induced to give, on an average. One 
“ Thousand Guineas for the same : 

“ That the salary of such office or place, after 
“ payment of the Land Tax and other out-goings, 
“ seldom producing more than the net annual 
“ sum of Seventy-Nine Pounds, and the expence 
“ of the necessary regimental or uniform dress of 
“ your Petitioners being deducted thereout, re- 
“ duces the Income to about Seventy Six Pounds 
“ per annum: 

a 2 


228 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ George! 

“ That many of your Petitioners being Gen- 
“ tlemen of small fortunes, and having little 
“ else to depend on than this income, and some 
“ of your Petitioners being married and having 
“ children, will be very much distressed if they 
cc should not be permitted to sell their offices or 
cc places. 

“ Your Petitioners therefore with the greatest 
“ deference submit their case to the 
“ justice and wisdom of this Honourable 
“ House, trusting, that on due con- 
“ sideration they shall have such in- 
demnities and relief in the Premises, 
“ as to this Honourable House shall 
“ seem meet. 

cc Andyour Petitioners shall ever pray.’* 

Lord De Ferrars issued the following order on 
the 12th of June 1782, relative to the future 
mourning to be used by the Band. 

“ Sir, 

“ You are hereby required to give notice to 

ce the Gentlemen of the Honourable Band under' 

■» — 

cc my command, that it is my direction that on 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


HI] 


229 


“ all occasions when the Court shall be in mourn- 
“ ing, the Gentlemen mourn with a piece of 
u black crape only round their left arms, instead 
“ of the mourning hitherto observed, viz. black 
“ waistcoats , breeches , stockings , swords, and 
“ buckles . 

u Given under my hand this 12th day of 
f* June 1782. 

’ • ' * ' ✓ 

De Ferrars.” 

/ 1 

i 

u Thomas Hayward, Esq. 

Clerk of the Cheque to Band, &c.” 


The next memorandum in the Order Book is 

* * ■ • " » 

the order for conforming to one mode of tying 
the hair and wigs a Queue. 

V Sir, 

“ The Gentlemen of the Honourable Band are 
cc requested to conform to one mode of tying 
“ their hair or wigs behind, which as their 
“ Uniform is Military should be a Queue :—the 
“ want of this was much noticed the days the 
sc Lords and Commons brought up their Ad- 


i 


230 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF \_George 

“ dresses to the Throne, and rendered their 
“ appearance less brilliant. 

“ I am, Sir, 

“ Your humble Servant, 

T. Hayward, 

“ Clerk of the Cheque, Sac." 

•\ i 

“ Mr. J. Webb, 

“ Gentleman Harbinger.” 

t 

The above order was issued by the Clerk of 
the Cheque, and although erased from the Order 
Book, is introduced for the purpose of shewing 

that no person , except the Captain , can issue any 

■ 

order whatever , which is most decidedly proved 
by the subsequent entry made by the Earl of 
Leicester, in his own hand writing. 

“ I have erased the whole of this order, it 
“ being issued without any authority from me 
“ the Captain, who had His Majesty’s permission 
“ to be absent on the day the Address alluded to 
“ was presented; but as I was not out of town, 
“ the Commanding Officer of the Band should 
(C have reported to me the deviations from the 
a established mode of dress which he observed 


III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 2S\ 

6( that day, instead of issuing out the above 
“ order. Wherefore I have erased it from the 
(e Order Book as irregular, this 24th day of 
“ March 1785. 

Leicester.” 

The Earl of Leicester, in 1789, required the 
Band to attend at St. Paul’s, to escort their Ma¬ 
jesties in going to the Cathedral. 

« Sir, 

“ I have it in command from our Captain the 
u Earl of Leicester, to acquaint you that your 
“ personal attendance, and that of every Gen- 
“ tleman of the Honourable Band, is required at 
“ St. Paul’s Cathedral, by ten o’clock of the 
“ morning of Thursday the 23rd of April, that 
(C day being appointed for a General Thanksgiving 
“ to Almighty God for the happy restoration of 
“ His Majesty’s Health : — all excuses apart, 
“ except that of inability through sickness or 

i 

“ infirmity, which must be properly certified by 
“ medical men. In receiving their Majesties, 
“ the Gentlemen are to stand in an agreeable 


\ 


S2 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ GeorgC 

i » 

“ posture* those of the same size being placed 
“ next to each other in two exact equal lines* at 

f * ' [ »» L f . , \ y 

“ the distance of their axe arm extended from 
ce each other* and to suffer no person to stand 
“ before or between them* that they march with 
u as much decency and regularity as possible in 
“ following their Majesties* and that eight of 
“ them attend on each side of the throne during 
“ Divine Service. 

“ No Gentleman must be absent from St. 

c 

“ Paul’s* without leave of the Earl of Leicester* 
“ before the duty is over. 

- - *v- ’ r ‘ u:i 

“ I am* Sir* 

. 

“ Your most obedient Servant* 

H. Hayward* 

“ Clerk of the Cheque.” 

“ William Sands* Esq. 

Premier Gentleman Pensioner.” 

' ’ f I T * f ' * r x 

The Marquis of Salisbury* as Lord Chamber- 
lain* transmitted the following Letter to Lord 
Viscount Falmouth* relative to the Marriage of 
the Prince of Wales. 


HI-J GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 233 

“ Lord Chamberlain’s Office, 
“ March 13, 1795. 

<e My Lord, 

I have His Majesty’s command to acquaint 
your Lordship that on the Evening of the 
“ Prince of Wales’s Nuptials, the Gentlemen 
“ Pensioners in waiting are to be drawn up in 
“ the Presence Chamber, when the Royal Family 
“ pass to and from the Chapel Royal. 

“ 1 have the honour to be, 

“ My Lord, ' 

“ Your Lordship’s 

“ Most obedient Servant, 

/ 7 

Salisbury.” 

“ Lord Viscount Falmouth, 
u Captain of the Band of Gentlemen 
“ Pensioners.” 

0 ' 

The Marquis of Salisbury transmitted a similar 
Letter to Lord Viscount Falmouth, previous to 

i ' 

the Wedding of Her Royal Highness the Princess 
Royal, with His Serene Highness the Prince of 
Wirtemberg, in the Chapel Royal at St. James’s, 
on Thursday the 18th of May 1795, at one 
o’clock in the afternoon. 


V 


234 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George • 

• • *' !,*••• ’S 

Lord Dartmouth issued the following Letter 
to Viscount Falmouth, relative to the Installation 
in 1805. 

“ Lord Chamberlain’s Office, 
“ March 30, 1805. 

“ My Lord, 

“ The Installation of the Knights of the Garter 
being fixed for Tuesday the 23rd of April next, 

<e at Windsor Castle, (His Majesty’s Palace;) I 
have received His Majesty’s commands that 
cc your Lordship do give the necessary orders for 
lc the attendance of the Gentlemen Pensioners at 
“ Windsor Castle on that day, in such number 
Ci as has been usual on similar occasions.* 

“ I have the honour to be, 
cc My Lord, 

“ Your Lordship’s 

6C Most obedient Servant, 

Dartmouth.” 

“ Viscount Falmouth, 

“ Captain of the Band.” 


* The following account is extracted from the Order Book, 
whereby it appears that only Twenty of the Gentlemen attend 
the Installations of the Knights of the Garter -.—-they carried up 



III.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


235 


June 18, 1814. 

A memorandum is made in the Order Book, 
that “ the Prince Regent, the Emperor of Russia, 
“ and King of Prussia, were entertained in a 
“ most magnificent manner at Guildhall, at the 
cc City’s expence on which occasion there were 
three Officers and eighteen of the Gentlemen 
attended, who were entertained in a sumptuous 
manner by the Corporation, at the Baptist Head 
Coffee House in Aldermanbury. 


the second course of the King’s Dinner, and upon this occasion 
[1805] His Majesty expressed his satisfaction at the appear¬ 
ance and conduct of the Band, to the Captain, and knighted 
John Burton, Esq. one of the Gentlemen. The Officers and 
Gentlemen dined at the Queen’s Lodge and the Muster Room 
was procured in the Castle by order of the Captain. 


€C 


( C 


ee 

ee 


ee 

ee 


The Right Honourable Earl Dartmouth, Lord Chamberlain 
to His Maiesty, for the attendance of 

£. s. d. 


Three Officers, viz. Lieutenant, Standard" 
“ Bearer, and Clerk of the Cheque, Ten * 

<f Guineas each .»■. 

Twenty Gentlemen, each Five Guineas 
Paid for Packing Cases for Arms and Muster *| 

<e Room . J 

Paid for Carriage of Arms and Uniforms ••• 
Expences of Harbinger, &c. . 


31 10 0 

105 0 0 

7 0 0 

2 10 0 
10 10 0 


fC Allowance for Travelling Expences -•-£! 56 10 0 









^3G the honourable band of [George 

The Marquis of Hertford, as Lord Chamber- 
lain., issued to the Earl of Courtown the following 
Letter, requiring the Band to attend His Royal 
Highness the Prince Regent, at St. Paul’s 
Cathedral, on the Thanksgiving Day for the 
Restoration of Peace. 

Ci Lord Chamberlain’s Office, 
“ July 4, 1814. 

“ My Lord, 

“ His Royal Highness the Prince Regent 
“ purposing to go in procession to St. Paul’s, on 

cc Thursday the 7th Instant, I have to request 

’ » 

that your Lordship will give the necessary 
(e orders for the attendance of the Gentlemen 

• v ^ * 

tc Pensioners upon His Royal Highness on that 
“ day. 

“ I have the honour to be, 

“ My Lord, 

* 

“ Your Lordship’s 

“ Most obedient Servant, 

Hertford.” 

“ The Earl of Courtown, 

“ Captain.” 


r 


Ill] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 237 

In consequence of the indisposition of His 
present Majesty, the Honourable Band of Gen¬ 
tlemen Pensioners have been transferred to His 
Royal Hi ghness the Prince Regent; and in order 
that the general duties may be distinctly under¬ 
stood, it is purposed to speak of the several 
situations in which they have the honour to 
attend; and although the Band is liable to be 
called into active service, as was intended in the 
year 1745,* their chief duty is appertaining to 
the splendour of the Court. 

The Parliament House . 

Whenever the King attends the House of Peers, 
the whole of the Gentlemen on the quarterly 
wait, with the Officers, are ranged in the old 
House of Peers adjoining the Committee of 

' Y 

Privileges, through which Ilis Majesty passes :— 
and according to the ancient privilege of the 
Band, the Officers and several of the Gentlemen 
join in the jjrocession, and attend him on the 

Throne. 


* Vide page 188, 


I 




238 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF \_GeorgC 


Addresses to their Majesties. 

In the room where the King or Queen receives 
an Address, the whole of the Gentlemen in 
the quarterly wait are ranked in like manner as 
they are in the approach to the House of Peers, 
by the side of the Throne; and as the privilege 
of presenting Addresses to His Majesty on the 
Throne is confined to the two Houses of Par¬ 
liament, the City of London, and the two 
Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, it is 
considered an high honour for the Band to 
attend on such occasions. 

i 

Levees. 

Five of the Gentlemen, with one of the Officers, 
wait weekly, and attend any Levee that may be 
held during such week, in the Presence Cham¬ 
ber ; and stand to their arms when any of the 
Royal Family pass.* 


* P a ge 169.—Duke of Montague’s Letter to the Clerk 
of the Cheque. 



III.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


239 


Drawing Rooms, 

A similar attendance and duty as at Levees was 
alone usual; but* in consequence of the few 

Drawing Rooms which have been held during 

. , . _ ' \ 

the latter part of the present reign,* the whole of 
the Gentlemen on the quarterly wait, with the 
Officers, have lately attended. 

Chapel Royal. 

On Easter Sunday, and all other occasions, 
whenever the Sovereign attends Divine Service 
in public, the whole of the Gentlemen in waiting 
receive His Majesty in the Presence Chamber, 
and fall into the procession in the rear. After 
service His Majesty is attended back in like man¬ 
ner to the Presence Chamber, where the Heralds, 
&c. file off.f 


* Vide page 170, as to Drawing Rooms during tlie reign of 
George II. and Queen Caroline. 

f So soon as the King and the Royal Family are conducted 
to the closet, the Officers and Gentlemen proceed to the pew 



240 the honourable eand of [George 
The Band also attend on Thanksgiving Days , 

-v I 

at St. Paul’s, &c. if His Majesty goes in Stated 

Knights of the Garter . 

At the Installations of the Knights of the 
Garter, the Gentlemen in waiting attend not only 
at St. George’s Chapel during the ceremony, but 
they carry up the second course of the King’s 
dinner the ceremonial attending which is as 
follows:— 

Two Serjeants at Arms. 

Comptroller of the Household. 

Two Serjeants at Arms. 

Treasurer of the Household. 


provided for them in the body of the Chapel. During the 
administering of the Sacrament, the Band guard the approach 
to the Chapel, which is cleared previous to the Royal Family 
leaving their seats. 

* Vide page 231—23 G 

t Vide page 223, 234. It appears to be customary for His 
Majesty to confer the honour of knighthood on one or two of 
the Gentlemen Pensioners on this occasion. While the Sove¬ 
reign s table is served by His Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, 
the Yeomen of the Guard (who daily carry up the King’s 
dinner) perform the like office at the tables of the Knights- 
Companions. 



III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 241 

The Sewer. 

Gentlemen Pensioners carrying the Dishes—two and two, 
Master of the Household. 

A Clerk of the Green Cloth. 

A Clerk Comptroller of the Green Cloth. 

Second Clerk of the Kitchen. 

Cofferer of the Household. 

A Clerk of the Green Cloth. 

A Clerk Comptroller of the Green Cloth. 

Chief Clerk of the Kitchen. 

Funerals . 

On the demise of the Crown, or on the death 
of a Queen Consort, the whole of the Band of 
Gentlemen Pensioners [forty] attend the funeral, 
but they attend no other branch of the Royal 
Family.* Till the accession of His present 
Majesty, orders for the Mourning to be used by 
the Band was issued by the Captain in writing, 
addressed to the Clerk of the Cheque, who no¬ 
tified them to the Band, and were not included 
in any public order from the Earl Marshal, the 


* The situation of the Band in the Procession is pointed out 
by referring to page 182, 196, &c. 


R 



242 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ George 

Lord Chamberlain, or the Secretary at War ; but 

i 

on the demise of the late King, to give the Court 
a more military appearance, it was only required 
that the Band, in common with military and 
naval officers, should wear crape round their left 
arm:—by which means the Band became included 
in the order for mourning , which issued from the 
War Office.* 


Coronation. 

It will be observed by reference to the account 
of the Coronation of their present Majesties, that 
the Band have a distinguished post added to 
which they have a prescriptive right, not the least 
ancient, nor the least honourable, to carry up 
the royal dinner on that day; J without exhibiting 

* Vide also minutes of Mr. Stapley, Clerk of the Cheque 
in the reign of Charles I. as to the mourning and liveries 
obtained at the Funeral or Coronation of a King or Queen, 
from the Wardrobe, page 101. 

f Vide pages 212, 214. 

J Two of the Gentlemen, as a reward for the service per-, 
formed by carrying up the dinner, are usually knighted at a 
Coronation $ and the Fees of Knighthood paid by the Lords 
of the Treasury. 



III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 243 

any claims, as others do, who ofteil contend for 
the performance of similar offices on such occa¬ 
sions, in quality of Carver, Cup-bearer, Sewer, 
&c. These last being feudal services, appendant 
to lands and offices held of the Crown, are per¬ 
formed solely on Coronations. 


Marriages of the Royal Family. 

On the marriage of their Majesties, the Band 
attended in the Procession:—and, agreeable to 
which precedent, they have also attended the 
several subsequent marriages during the present 
reign. # 

The above are the principle duties which the 
Band have to attend; and in order that the 

several situations of the Officers and Gentlemen 

/ ^ 

may be the better comprehended, it is intended 
to close the present work in describing them 
severally, according to the rank they respectively 

fill. 


* Vide page 204, 205, 233 , &c. 
R 2 






244 ' THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ George 

The Captain . 

C / , ■' ' ' • 

The Captain of the Band has always been 
considered a post of a very high and distinguished 
honour, and not unworthy the acceptance of the 
first nobleman in the country; and which, in one 
case only from its institution, now three hundred 
years, (that of Sir Anthony Browne, who was a 
Knight of the Garter) has been conferred upon a 
Commoner. 

The Captain bears an ebony staff with a gold 
head, in the form of a cane, which he receives 
from the King, and which he surrenders likewise 
to the King on resigning his command. The 
Lord Chamberlain administers the oath of office 
to the Captain, by virtue of the King’s warrant. 

\ 

The Lieutenant. 

The Lieutenant receives from the King, as an 
investiture of office, a similar staff of ebony to the 
Captain’s, with a silver head. In the absence of 
the Captain, the command devolves on the Lieu- 


HI.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS* 245 

m 

tenant,* to whom the Clerk of the Cheque 
administers the following Oath: 

\ 

Oath of the Lieutenant • 

<c You shall swear to be a true and faithful 
<e subject and servant unto our Sovereign Lord 
“ George the Third, by the Grace of God of the 
“ United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, 
<{ King, Defender of the Faith, &c. and on 
<c earth Supreme Head of the Churches of Great 
“ Britain and Ireland:—You shall truly and 
“ diligently give your attendance in the room of 
“ late Lieutenant of his Majesty’s Band 

“ of Gentlemen Pensioners —You shall be 
“ retained to no person or persons, of any degree 
“ or condition, by oath, livery, badge, promise, 
“ or otherwise; but only to the King’s Majesty, 
“ without his special license; and you shall not, 
“ hereafter hear or know of any thing that shall 


* There are frequent instances upon record, that the 
Lieutenant, Standard Bearer, and the Clerk of the Cheque 
have had the honour of Knighthood conferred upon them on 
retiring from the Band, 


/ 



$46 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ GeOrgC 

ce be hurtful or prejudical to his most royal 
u person, or to his heirs, (especially in treason ;) 
“ but you shall withstand it, to the utmost of 
“ your power; and the same, with all diligence 
§e to you possible, reveal and disclose to the 
u King’s Majesty ; or to your Captain for the 
“ time being ; or, in his absence, to some of his 
“ Majesty’s Privy Council : or, for want of them, 

i 

“ to such others as you shall know will discover 
“ the same to His Majesty You shall con- 
“ tinually be furnished with double horses and 
“ men, and provide that yourself, and your men 

v iv "JfaWR? i i 

C£ may be also well furnished with harness to 
“ serve His Majesty, in time of need or other- 
“ wise, for his Majesty’s pleasure, when com- 
c{ manded thereto by His Majesty:—You shall 
“ also truly and diligently to your power observe 
<c and keep from this day forward all and every 
“ such reasonable articles, rules, and ordinances 
“ as shall be devised by the King’s Majesty, and 
“ set forth and signed with his Majesty’s hand 
u for your better usage and order. And all such 
“ causes as by way of secrecy and counsel shall 
u be shewed unto you by the King’s Majesty, 

\ 

v 


i 


I 


III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 247 

u or the Captain, you shall keep secret without 
“ discovering the same to any person or persons 
“ unless you shall be thereunto commanded 
“ Also you shall when commanded thereto by 
“ His Majesty, make your musters in such 
“ harness and other habiliments of war, and upon 
“ such horses as shall be your own proper goods, 
“ and no other man’s:—And this you shall well 
“ and truly observe and keep, and serve the 
“ King’s Majesty in the said room of Z?.] 
“ late Lieutenant of His Majesty’s Band of 
“ Gentlemen Pensioners ; So help you God, and 
“ the Holy Contents of this Book.” 

J X 

The Standard Bearer . 

The Standard Bearer is invested by the King 
with precisely a similar staff to the Lieutenant’s, 
and the Clerk of the Cheque administers the 
following Oath: 

Oath of the Standard Bearer . 

“ You shall swear to be a true and faithful sub- 
“ ject and servant unto our Sovereign Lord 
“ George the Third, by the Grace of God of the 


i 


248 the honourable band of [ George 

“ United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, 

“ King, Defender of the Faith, &c. and on 

“ earth Supreme Head of the Churches of Great 

✓ 

“ Britain and Ireland:—You shall truly and 
“ diligently give your attendance in the room of 
“ late Standard-Bearer of his Majesty’s 

“ Band of Gentlemen Pensioners :—You shall be 
“ retained to no person or persons, of any degree 
“ or condition, by oath, livery, badge, promise, 

“ or otherwise ; but only to the King’s Majesty, 

“ without his special license ; and you shall not, 

♦ 

“ hereafter hear or know of any thing that shall 
“ be hurtful or prejudical to his most royal 
“ person, or to his heirs, (especially in treason ;) 

“ but you shall withstand it, to the utmost of 
“ your power; and the same, with all diligence 
“ to you possible, reveal and disclose to the 
“ King’s Majesty ; or to your Captain for the 
“ time being; or, in his absence, to some of his 
“ Majesty’s Privy Council; or, for want of them, 

“ to the Lieutenant of the said Band of Gen- 
“ tlemen Pensioners, or to such others as you * 
“ shall know will discover the same to His 
C( Majesty You shall continually be furnished 


III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 249 

<c with double horses and men, and provide that 
“ yourself, and your men may be also well 

“ furnished with harness to serve His Majesty, 

% 

“ in time of need or otherwise, for his Majesty’s 
“ pleasure, when commanded thereto by His 
“ Majesty :—You shall also truly and diligently 
4i to your power observe and keep from this day 
“ forward all and every such reasonable articles, 
“ rules, and ordinances as shall be devised by 
“ the King’s Majesty, and set forth and signed 
“ with his Majesty’s hand for your better usage 
u and order. And all such causes as by way of 
“ secrecy and counsel shall be shewed unto you 
“ by the King’s Majesty, the Captain, or by his 
“ Lieutenant, you shall keep secret without dis- 
u covering the same to any person or persons 
u unless you shall be thereunto commanded :— 
“ Also you shall when commanded thereto by 
66 His Majesty, make your musters in such 
“ harness and other habiliments of war, and upon 
“ such horses as shall be your own proper goods, 
“ and no other man’s :—And this you shall well 
u and truly observe and keep, and serve the 
4C King’s Majesty in the said room of i?.] 


250 THE HONOURABLE BAND OP [ GeorgC 

“ late His Majesty’s Standard-Bearer; So help 
“ you God, and the Holy Contents of this 
“ Book.” 

In respect to the Standard borne by this 
Officer, little information can be procured; hut 
from the Gentleman’s Magazine for May 1790, 
the following particulars, with the drawing, are 
extracted; 



" May 10, 1790. 

“ Mr. Urban, 


“ I here send an old drawing in water colours 
“ on vellum, which I found in turning over 
“ some manuscripts in my possession. It re- 
“ presents the pattern for a Standard for the 
“ Gentlemen Pensioners in 1639, The flag is 
“ in three divisions—the first and broadest next 


























III.J GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 251 

C( the staffs is argent, a cross of St. George 
“ gules . The second is, gules, two battle-axes 
“ in saltire, or, and studded, which are the 
“ insignia or arms of the Band. In chief, a 
“ crown of the second, lined ermine. In the 

tc third division, where the flag begins to fork 
“ off, is a scroll, or, with the following inscrip- 
ce tion : c Per tela, per hostes The narrow part 
“ of the fork is in diagonal compartments, orna- 
cc mented with a rose, thistle, Jleur de lys , and 
harp, surmounted of crowns, and adorned with 

“ foliage work. The colours are now much 

/* 

“ faded ; and, without doubt, the original was 

richly embroidered in gold. Beneath the flag 

* e is this inscription : 

“ This was the paterae for a Standard for the 
<s Gentlemen Pentioners in the yeare 1639. The 

9 

staffe was nine foote longe and half $ the flag 
ce seven foote.” 

(e Yours, Sac. 

cc J. Thorpe." 

The command of the Band devolves on the 
Standard Bearer, in the absence of the Captain 
and Lieutenant. 


252 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ GeorgC 

i - 

The Editor is indebted to Mr. Dawson, the 

predecessor of the present Standard Bearer, for a 

< 

copy of the Commission* whereby he held that 
office. 

u George R. 

iS Our will and pleasure is, that you forthwith 
<( swear and admit, or cause to be sworn and 
“ admitted, Our trusty and well-beloved Edward 
“ Dawson , Esq . to be Standard Bearer to our 
“ Band of Pensioners, in the room and place of 
(( Edivard Boscawen Frederick , Esq . with all and 
“ singular the rights, privileges, and advantages 
“ to the same belonging or appertaining, in as 
“ full and ample manner, to all intents and pur-f 
ic poses, as the said Edward Boscawen Frederick y 
“ or any other person heretofore hath held, 
66 exercised, and enjoyed, or of right ought to 
“ have held, exercised, and enjoyed the said 
u place:—and for so doing this shall be your 
“ warrant. 


* The Commissions of the Lieutenant and Clerk of the 
Cheque are similar, as well as the Oath, the names of the 
offices excepted. 





GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


Ill] 



(C Given at our Court at St. James’s, the 14th 
“ day of October 1806, in the forty-sixth year 
“ of our reign. 

“ By His Majesty’s command, 

“ Spencer. 


“ To our right trusty and well beloved 
6C Councellor, St. Andrew Lord St. John, 
tc Captain of our Band of Pensioners. 

“ Edward Dawson, Esq. Standard Bearer to the 
* “ Band of Pensioners.” 


The Clerk of the Cheque . 

v 

The Clerk of the Cheque holds a most im¬ 
portant office in the Band, when it is considered 
that his duty requires him to put under the cheque 
all those who are absent without the Captain s 
express leave ; added to which, he is to prepare 
the Roll for the Paymaster.* He receives a staft 


* The following Copy of the Roll is inserted to shew the 
form in which the same is delivered to the Paymaster by the 
Clerk of the Cheque :— 


A nm 




254 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF ^Gcorgti 

i + J 

of office from the King, at the time of being 


<c Anno Regni Domini Nostri Georgii Tertii Regis Quinqua- 

“ gesimo Tertio. 

“ A Certificate of Wages and Board Wages due to the 
tc Right Honourable Earl of Courtown, Captain of His 
i( Majesty’s Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners ; 
<{ Philip Lake Godsall, Esq. Lieutenant; and Edward Daw- 
“ son. Esq Standard Bearer 5 Philip Lybbe Powys, Esq„ 
“ Clerk of the Cheque 5 and others the Band of Gentlemen 
“ Pensioners, for one quarter of a year, commencing the 5tli 
<( of January 1813, and ending the 5th of April following, 
and payable out of the Receipt of His Majesty’s Exchequer 
“ to William Gifford, Esq. Paymaster 5 by virtue of His 
“ Majesty’s Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the 21 st of 
“ December, in the forty-fourth year of His said Majesty’s 
<c Reign ; who, by the said Letters Patent, is appointed and 
“ made Receiver and Paymaster to the said Captain, and all 
“ others the Officers and Band of Gentlemen Pensioners.” 

The Right Hon. the Earl of Courtown, Captain-• ccl. 


Philip Lake Godsall, Esq. Lieutenant . exxv. 

Edward Dawson, Esq. Standard Bearer . lxxvii: x. 

Philip Lybbe Powys, Esq. Clerk of the Cheque • • xxx. 

Robert Stace, Esq. . xxv. 

Edward West, Esq. . xxv. 

John Spencer, Esq. . xxv, 

William Bulmer, Esq. .xxv. 

Samuel Crowther, Esq..xxv* 

John Bragge, Esq..xxv. 

Levison Vernon, Esq. . xxv. 

Charles Whistons, Esq. .xxv, 

Harry Hooley, Esq. . xxv. 

George Panton Carr, Esq. .xxv. 

Thomas King, Esq. .xxv. 















GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS, 


Hi] 

presented; 
Officer. 


255 


and is sworn by the Commanding 


William Drake, Esq..xxv. 

Fenwick Bulmer, Esq. .xxv. 

F. Godman Capel, Esq..xxv. 

Samuel Wood, Esq. .xxv. 

Joshua Fountain, Esq..xxv. 

Richard Burton, Esq. .xxv. 

George Elwes, Esq. .xxv. 

Robert Pearce, Esq. .xxv. 

William Collyer, Esq. .xxv. 

Thomas Thorp, Esq. .xxy. 

James Milsted, Esq..xxv. 

Henry Bent Feme, Esq. .xxv. 

Thomas Hughes, Esq. .* xxv. 

Edward Lampert, Esq. .. *-xxv. 

John Layburn, Esq. .xxv. 

Charles Brewer, Esq. .xxv. 

Thomas Mason, Esq. .xxv. 

J. Moncaster Atkinson, Esq. .xxv. 

Thomas Kimber, Esq. .xxv. 

John Bull, Esq..xxv. 

Edward Ainge, Esq. .xxv. 

Robert Pearn, Esq. .*.xxv. 

William Wilkinson, Esq. .xxv. 

Joseph Walley, Esq..xxv. 

Edward Waddilove, Esq. .xxv. 

William Blagg, Esq..xxv. 

Thomas Smith, Esq.. . .xxv, 

Thomas Rutherford, Esq.* .-xxv. 

James Holbrook, Esq. .xxv. 


J. A. Oliver, Gentleman Harbinger-•• xvii:x. 

Total-.-MD. 

(Signed) 


" COURTOWN.” 






























256 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [GeorgC 

Gentlemen Pensioners . 

The Gentlemen Pensioners are stilcd Esquires 
in their Warrants of Appointment, which puts 
them upon a par with Captains in the Army,* as 
will appear by the following Warrant to the Clerk 
of the Cheque :— 


* The Gentlemen Pensioners purchase their Commissions; 
and the price frequently exceeds the value of a Company in 
the Army:—the following Fees are paid on each transfer. 

s. d. 


Captain .. 52 10 0 

Clerk of the Cheque . 5 10 0 

Commission .. 1 1 0 

Secretary. 5 5 0 

Messenger . 16 0 


£65 12 0 

The present regimentals is a full dress uniform, with two 
epaulettes, which was approved by His Majesty at the Instal¬ 
lation in 1805, since which there has been no alteration. 

The principal Insignia of Office used by the Gentlemen 
Pensioners are their Battle Axes, which they only carry in 
the presence of their Majesties, wearing their full dress laced 
cocked hats. Chamberlayne also observes that “ Their Arms 
“ on horseback, in time of war, are Cuirassiers Arms, with 
“ swords and pistols. They have not appeared armed, either 
“ in this or any other manner, in the Army, in the memory 
<f of man.”— Part I. page 107. 


\ 










111.1 GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 257 

—* * 

fc These are to authorize and require you to 
swear and admit William Mathew This el ton, 
(i Esq. a Gentleman Pensioner in Ordinary to 
(c His Majesty King George the Third, in the 
“ room of Edward, Lumpert, Esq. resigned; and 
“ for your so doing this shall be to you a suf- 
u hcient Warrant. Given under my hand this 
“ 2nd day of February 1816, and in the 56th 
4C year of His said Majesty’s reign. 

“ CourtownT 


“ To Joseph Wells, Esq. 

“ Clerk of the Cheque to the Honourable 
“ Band of Gentlemen Pensioners.” 

r * < 

Upon the receipt of the Captain’s Warrant, 
the Clerk of the Cheque, or in his absence the 
Gentleman Harbinger, administers the following 

Oath:— 

Oath of a Gentleman Pensioner. 

“ You shall swear to be a true and taithful sub- 
(C ject and servant unto our Sovereign Lord 
(C George the Third, by the Grace of God 


258 SL'HE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ George 

1 » r 

“ of the United Kingdom of Great Britain 
“ and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. 
“ and on earth Supreme Head of the Churches 
“ of Great Britain and Ireland :—You shall truly 
“ and diligently give your attendance in the room 
“ of [A.B, j late one of his Majesty’s Gentlemen 
“ Pensioners in Ordinary:—You shall be retained 
“ to no person or persons, of any degree or con- 
“ dition, by oath, livery, badge, promise, or 

“ otherwise; but only to the King’s Majesty, 

* 

“ without his special license; and you shall not 
“ hereafter hear or know of any thing that shall 
“ be hurtful or prejudicial to his most royal 
fiC person, or to his heirs, (especially in treason;) 
u but’ you shall withstand it, to the utmost of 
“ your power; and the same, with all diligence 
“ to you possible, reveal and disclose to the 
cc King’s Majesty; or to your Captain for the 
“ time being ; or, in his absence, to some of his 
“ Majesty’s Privy Council; or, for want of them, 
“ to the Lieutenant or other Officers of the 
cc Gentlemen Pensioners ; or to such as you shall 
u know will discover the same to His Majesty 
4C You shall keep continually three double horses 


I 


III] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS, 259 

“ and two men, and provide that yourself* and 
“ two servants may be also well furnished with 
<c harness to serve His Majesty, in time of need 
u or otherwise, for his Majesty’s pleasure, at 
“ the command or the appointment of your said 
“ Captain, his Lieutenant, Standard-Bearer, &c. 
€e when commanded so to do by His Majesty:— 
“ You shall also truly and diligently to your power 
“ observe and keep from this day forward all and 
u every such articles, rules, and ordinances as 
“ now at this present day be devised and set 
“ forth for your better usage and order; as 
u well as all other articles, rules, and ordi- 
tc nances that shall be hereafter set forth or 
“ devised, or by His Majesty commanded :— 
“ You shall be obedient to your Captain, his 
“ Lieutenant, Standard Bearer, &c. and their 
“ commandments you shall observe and keep at 
“ all times, so far as the same concern the service 
“ of the King’s Majesty. And all such causes 
“ as by way of secrecy and counsel shall be 
“ shewed unto you by the King’s Majesty, the 
66 Captain, or other Officers, you shall keep 
** secret without discovering the same to any 


i 



260 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 


CC 

cc 

cc 

CC 

cc 

cc 

CC 

tc 

cc 

cc 

{< 

cc 

cc 

cc 

cc 

cc 

cc 

cc 

cc 

cc 

\ 

cc 

cc 

cc 

cc 


person or persons till you shall be thereunto 
commanded :—You shall diligently give your 
attendance upon the King’s Majesty, in such 
wise as you shall be commanded and appointed 
by the said Captain, his Lieutenant, Standard 
Bearer, &c. and not be absent or depart from 
the Court without the licence of the King’s 
Majesty, the Captain, or other Officers in his 
absence :—When commanded by His Majesty, 
you shall also make your musters in such 
harness and other habiliments of war, and upon 
such horses as shall be your own proper goods, 
and none other man’s:—Also, you shall not 
muster at any time hereafter before the King’s 
Majesty, the Captain, or other Officers, with 
any man’s servants in lieu of such servants as 
you be charged to keep, but only with such as 
shall be retained by yourself, to serve the King’s 
Majesty for the same intent and purpose:—-And 
this you shall well and truly observe and keep, 
and serve the King’s Majesty in the said room 
of [4.B.] late one of his Gentlemen Pensioners 
in Ordinary; So help you God, and the Holy 
Contents of this Book.” 


III.] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


26 1 


The Clerk of the Cheque certifies the admis¬ 
sion of every Gentleman Pensioner in the 
following form:— 

* \ 

u These are to certify, that by virtue of a 
ct Warrant to me directed for that purpose, under 
i( the hand of the Right Honourable the Earl of 
“ Courtown , Captain of His Majesty’s Band of 
“ Gentlemen Pensioners, bearing date the 2nd day 
6(r of February last, William Mathciv Thiselton , 
“ Esq. is sworn and admitted a Gentleman 
“ Pensioner in Ordinary to His Majesty King 
“ George the Third, vice Edivard Lampert , Esq. 
“ resigned. Witness my hand this twenty-first 
“ day of March, in the fifty-sixth year of His 
“ said Majesty’s reign, and in the year of our 
“ Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and 
“ Sixteen. 

“ Clerk of the Cheque, 

J, Wells.” 

i 

The Officers and Gentlemen of the Band pos- 
} sess all the ancient privileges of their predecessors, 
which were confirmed to them by His present 


262 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [GeorgC 

Majesty on his accession ;# and which entitle 
the persons holding situations in the Band to be 
exempted from serving on juries, parish and ward 
offices, and also from the more expensive and 
laborious office of sheriff, 

In the year 1809, an Act of Parliament was 
passed at the instance of the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer (Mr. Perceval,) intituled <s An Act 


* Vide Proclamation, page 200. 

t By the several Acts of Parliament for regulating the. 

admission and qualification of persons entitled to bear and 

hold offices or commissions in the Army, it is enacted. That 

the sworn servants of the King , and the Household , shall within 

six calendar months after their admission receive the Sacrament 

of the Lord's Supper , in some public Church , upon some Lord's 

Day , immediately after Divine Service and Sermon ; and obtain 

a certificate of his so doing, under the hands of the Minister 

and Churchwardens ; and make proof of the truth thereof by 

two witnesses on oath. After which every such person is to 

take the Oaths of Supremacy, Allegiance , and Abjuration ; 

and to subscribe the Declaration against Transubstantiation ; 

either in the Courts at Westminster, or at the General Quarter 

Sessions, of the place where he shall be and reside, between 

the hours of nine and twelve, and no other, and during the 

time of taking thereof, all proceedings in such Court shall 

cease. Any and every person neglecting to conform to the 

♦ 

above enactments, is disabled to occupy or enjoy any office or 
employment.— Vide Williams's Justice , vol. 3. Article Ojjiee. 
25 Charles II. 1 George I. and 16 George II. 



Ill ] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 263 

“ for the better prevention of the Sale and 
“ Brokerage of Offices in which the sale of 

♦ 

all Offices in the gift of the Crown, the Lords 
of the Treasury, or in any other Department 
were strictly prohibited, and every person con¬ 
cerned in so doing is declared to be guilty of a 
misdemeanour; but, by the Seventh Section of 
the Act, [49th George III. cap. T26.] It is 
Enacted, “ That nothing in this Act contained 
“ shall extend or be construed to extend to any 
“ purchases, sales, or exchanges of any Com- 
missions or Appointments in the Honourable 
u Band of Gentlemen Pensioners.” 

* * * * * 1 s 

\ 

Gentleman Harbinger. 

At the formation of the Band, this officer was 
considered necessary ; and at no period have we 
discovered his services dispensed with. He 
purchases his place, # and the following Oath is 

* The late Harbinger [Mr. Oliver] died suddenly $ and 
consequently lost the benefit of the right of sale. The present 
Harbinger [Mr. Thiselton] purchased the same from the 
Captain, in whom the right of sale merges on the decease of 
any Officer or Gentleman in the Band, except the Paymaster, 
who holds his appointment by Patent under the Great Seal. 



264 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ GeorgC 

administered to him on his admission to the office 

i 

by the Clerk of the Cheque, by which it appears 
he is his deputy. 

Oath of the Gentleman Harbinger . 

“ You shall swear to be a true and faithful 
ce subject and servant unto our Sovereign Lord 
6C George the Third, by the Grace of God of the 
“ United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 
“ King, Defender of the Faith, &:c. and on earth 
“ Supreme Head of the Churches of GreatBritain 
ec and Ireland:—You shall diligently give your at- 
<c tendance in the room of \A, late Harbinger of 
“ His Majesty’s Band of Gentlemen Pensioners:— 
“ You shall be retained to no person or persons, 
“ of any degree or condition, by oath, livery, 
badge, promise, or otherwise ; but only to His 
u Majesty, without his special licence :—You 
iC shall not hear or know of any thing that shall 
“ be hurtful or prejudicial to his most royal 
te person, or to his heirs, especially in treason; 
“ but you shall withstand it, to the utmost of 
“ your power; and the same, with all possible 

i 

** diligence reveal and disclose to the Captain of 



i 


III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 265 

l N , 

“ the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners for the 
“ time being; and, in his absence, to his 
“ Lieutenant or Standard-Bearer, or to some of 
cs His Majesty’s Privy Council, or to some such 
cc as you know will discover the same to His Ma- 
“ jesty:—You shall at all times be at the command 
“ of the Captain of the Band of Gentlemen 
“ Pensioners for the time being, his Lieutenant 
cc or Standard-Bearer, so the same be or concern 
“ the service of His Majesty:—You shall give your 
“ attendance in the absence of the Clerk of the 
“ Cheque, as his deputy , in the Presence Chani- 
“ her; and there to take notice of such Gentle- 
“ men Pensioners as ought to give their attend- 
“ ance, and to make true certificate thereof to 
“ the Clerk of the Cheque, and of their daily 
“ appearance:—You shall not depart from the 
“ court for any long time, without leave of the 
“ Captain of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, 
“ his Lieutenant, or Standard Bearer, or the 
iC Clerk of the Cheque. All this you shall well 
<e and truly observe and keep, and serve the 
u King’s Majesty in the room of [ A . -6.] late 
“ Gentleman Harbinger to His Majesty; So help 


I 


266 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [GeOrgC 

“ you God, and the Holy Contents of this 
“ Book.” 

Our Monarchs had three orders of Harbingers 
until 1782, viz. a Knight Harbinger, a Gen¬ 
tlemen Harbinger, and five or more Yeomen 
Harbingers:—since which period the Knight 
Harbinger only remains. It has ever been con¬ 
sidered no small honour that the Band of Gen¬ 
tlemen Pensioners should be allowed a peculiar 
Officer of this denomination,* and a still greater, 
that he should be of the second order. 

Paymaster . 

Previous to the reign of James I.-p there was 
no such Officer as a Paymaster:—the Band usually 
receiving their pay from the Cofferer of the 
Household. Since which period, however, a 
Paymaster has been appointed by Letters Patent 
under the Great Seal. The present worthy 
Paymaster William Gifford, Esq, was appointed 

* Chamhcrlayne has observed in his account of the Band., 
“ That the Gentleman Harbinger is to provide lodging for the 
e( Band, and to assist the Clerk of the Cheque in his absence, 
rc as his Deputy .”—Part I. page 106—1755. 

f Vide page 8/, 


% 





III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 267 

on the 22nd of December 1803.* The situation 
has always been considered highly honourable; 
and it is a remarkable fact, a former Bishop of 
Norwich held the appointment until his death. 


Messenger and Axe-Keeper. 

The person holding this situation is elected by 

\ 

the Gentlemen of the Band, and is removeable at 
pleasure:—he resides constantly at St. James’s 
Palace, in the Muster Room belonging to the 
Band; and over and above the fee he receives on 
the admission of Gentlemen, is remunerated at 
Christmas by the Officers and Gentlemen. The 
duties of the Messenger and Axekeeper were 
clearly defined by Lord Bathurst,^ to which the 
Messenger and Axekeeper upon his appointment 
is required strictly to adhere. 

* The Paymaster is alone remunerated by a per-centage on 
the respective payments made to the Honourable Band 5 which 
by the Letters Patent creating him the Paymaster, authorizes 
him to make such deduction from the pay of the Officers and 
Gentlemen ; as his predecessor did. He is also authorised 
to appoint a Deputy 5 but, which Deputy must be approved 
of by the Lords of the Treasury previous to his acting. 

f Vide page 184, 187. 



THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ George 



A L I S T 

OF THE 

Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, 

IN THE 

59th Year of George III.—1819* 


Captain: 

RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF COURTOWN, 
VISCOUNT STOPFORD, BARON COURTOWN, 
BARON SALTERSFORD, &C. &C. &C. 

Lieutenant: 

WILLIAM HENDERSON, ESQ. 

v 

Standard Bearer: 

JOHN JOSEPH STOCKDALE, ESQ. 

* 

Clerk of the Cheque: 

JOSEPH WELLS, ESQ. 

• \ . ' % 

Gentleman Harbinger: 

W. M. THISELTON, ESQ. 

Paymaster: 

WILLIAM GIFFORD, ESQ. 




III.] 


CENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


369 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS 

Who wait the New Year and Midsummer Quarters. 
JOHN SPENCER, ESQ. 

I 

WILLIAM BULMER, ESQ. 

JOHN BRAGGE, ESQ. 

LEVISON VERNON, ESQ. 

ROBERT PEARCE, ESQ. 

WILLIAM COLLYER, ESQ. 

HENRY BENT FERNE, ESQ. 

JOHN LAYBURN, ESQ. 

CHARLES BREWER, ESQ. 

THOMAS MASON, ESQ. 

THOMAS KIMBER, ESQ. 

JAMES HOLBROOK, ESQ. 

HENRY PAGE, ESQ. 

WILLIAM MATHEW THISELTON, ESQ. 
BENJAMIN SMITH, ESQ. 

JAMES WILKINSON, ESQ. 

WILLIAM EBDELL, ESQ. 

JOHN WILKINSON, ESQ. 

RICHARD WILKINSON, ESQ. 

BENJAMIN MILLS, ESQ. 


270 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS 

Who wait the Lady Day and Michaelmas Quarters: 

♦ 

GEORGE PANTON CARR., ESQ. 

FENWICK EULMER, ESQ. 

i 

SAMUEL WOOD, ESQ. 

JAMES FOUNTAIN., ESQ. 

RICHARD BURTON, ESQ, 

EDWARD AINGE, ESQ. 

" ■§ 

ROBERT PEARN, ESQ. 

WILLIAM WILKINSON; ESQ*. 

JOSEPH WALLEY, ESQ. 

WILLIAM BLAGG, ESQ. 

JOHN BULL, ESQ. 

THOMAS RUTHERFORD, ESQ. 

WILLIAM GEARY, ESQ. 

THOMAS KING, ESQ. 

SAMUEL PAGE, ESQ. 

EDWARD WEST, ESQ, 

EDWARD KNAPMAN, ESQ. 

BENJAMIN J. COOKE, ESQ. 

WILLIAM HARRIS, ESQ. 

JOHN FORBES, ESQ. 


Messenger and Axe-Keeper: 

RICHARD HILL, MUSTER ROOM, ST. JAMES'S. 


APPENDIX. 




I 




GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS 


271 


APPENDIX. 


Her late Majesty’s Funeral having differed 


0 

from the precedent of the Consort of George II. 
it was deemed necessary to insert a copy of the 
procession from the London Gazette, whereby" it 
will appear that the Captain of the Band and ten 
of the Gentlemen only attended.* 


* On which occasion the Gentlemen wore their uniform coats, 
black crape over the ornamental part of their hats, sword 
knots, and left arms black crape scarfs over their right 
shoulders ; black waistcoats, breeches, stockings, and buckles j 
conformable to the Order issued from the Horse Guards, of the 
20th of November 1818.—The following Gentlemen attended; 


Joseph Walley, Esq. 
Henry Page, Esq. 

W. M. Thiselton, Esq. 
Samuel Page, Esq. 
Benjamin Cooke, Esq. 


Benjamin Smith, Esq. 
James Wilkinson, Esq. 
John Wilkinson, Esq. 
William Harris, Esq. 
Benjamin Mills, Esq. 


The Lieutenant, Standard Bearer, Clerk of the Cheque, and 
' Gentleman Harbinger attended, and walked in the procession 
immediately before the above Ten Gentlemen Pensioners, 
although not noticed in the Gazette. 






§72 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ George 


<< 

(C 

<c 

(C 

u 

cc 

cc 

<( 

CC 

CC 

cc 

cc 


“ Whitehall, November 17* 1818. 
This day* at one o’clock* the Queen departed 
this life* to the inexpressible grief of all the 
Royal Family* after a tedious illness* which 
Her Majesty bore with the most pious fortitude 
and resignation. The many great and ex¬ 
emplary virtues which so eminently distin¬ 
guished Her Majesty throughout Her long life, 
were the object of universal esteem and 
admiration amongst all classes of His Majesty’s 
subjects* and render the death of this Illustrious 

and Most Excellent Princess an unspeakable 

■*» 

loss to the whole Nation.” 


cc Heralds College , December 8* 1818. 
“ The remains of Her late Most Excellent 
“ Majesty Queen Charlotte* of blessed memory* 
“ having lain in state* privately* at Kew Palace* 
“ during the preceding day and night, were 
“ removed from thence to Windsor* on Wed- 




f 




Ill] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. g?3 

“ nesday last'the 2nd Instant, at ten o’clock in 
a the morning, in a hearse, adorned with ten 
“ escutcheons, and drawn by eight of Her late 
“ Majesty’s horses, preceded by the Knight- 
“ Marshal’s Men on horseback, with black staves, 
“ and followed by seven carriages of Her late 
“ Majesty, each drawn by six horses,' conveying 
<c the Lord Chamberlain, the Master of the Horse, 
“ the Treasurer and Secretary to Her late Ma- 

\ V 

<c jesty, the Ladies of the Bedchamber, and others 
“ of Her late Majesty’s Establishment:— the 
“ whole escorted by a Field-Officer’s Guard, with 

“ a standard, consisting of one hundred and 

.. . . • > ; 
f • « < ; • 

cc twenty men, of the 19th Lancers. At Long- 

“ for^ (where the procession arrived at three 

“ o’clock, and halted during the space of one 

iC hour) the first escort was relieved by a similar 

» * 

iC guard of the 3rd Regiment of Dragoon Guards, 

* • . * „ * » ■ • ■ * " • * „* 1 

“ which escorted the Royal Body to Datchet 
“ Bridge, where it fell into the rear, and formed 
ic the rear guard. A Field Officer’s detachment, 
“ of one hundred men, with a standard, from the 
Household Brigade, met the procession at 
“ Datchet Bridge, apd formed its escort to the 


21'4 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [George 

* 

“ door of the Royal Chapel of Saint George, at 
ic Windsor. 

- ' i 

ce The procession halted at Frogmore to receive 
“ His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, with 
u His Guard of Honour, and proceeded from 
6C thence, at half-past seven o’clock, to Saint 
“ George’s Chapel, where it arrived at a quarter 
“ past eight, in the following order :— 

Party of Life Guards. 

Carriages of the younger branches of the Royal Family, each 

drawn by six horses, viz. 

His Royal Highness the Prince Leopold of Saxe Cobourg. 

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. 

Their Royal Highnesses the Princesses. 

His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex. 

Two carriages of His Royal Highness the Duke of ¥ork. 

Three carriages of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, 

each drawn by six horses. 

Servants and Grooms of the Royal Family, 

Servants and Grooms of the Prince Regent, 

* f - / . ' ' *< 

Servants and Grooms of His Majesty, 

Servants and Grooms of Her late Majesty, 

(All in deep mourning, with caps of honour, and each bearing 

a flambeau.) 

Trumpets and kettle drums mounted, and the drums and fifes 
„ of the Foot Guards. 

Knight Marshal’s Men on horseback, with black staves. 


/ 


III] 


GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


275 


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THE HEARSE, 

Brawn by eight of Her late Ma¬ 
jesty’s black horses, driven by 
Her late Majesty’s Body Coach¬ 
man. 

Guard of Honour. 

Carriage of His Royal Highness 
the Prince Regent, drawn by six 
of His Majesty’s black horses, 
conveying His Royal Highness 
the Prince Regent, Chief Mourn¬ 
er, accompanied by His Royal 
Highness the Duke of York. 

Carriage of His Royal Highness 
the Prince Regent, drawn by six 
horses, conveying the Lord of 
the Bedchamber, Groom of the 
^ Bedchamber, and Equerry in 

si Waiting of the Prince Regent. 

Guard of Honour. 

Carriage of Her late Majesty, conveying the Earl 
of Morton, K. T. Lord Chamberlain, the Earl 
Harcourt, Master of the Horse, Major-General 
Taylor, Treasurer, and Sir Henry Campbell, 
Secretary and Comptroller to Her late Majesty. 

Carriage of Her late Majesty, conveying Ladies 
of the Bedchafnber to Her late Majesty. 

Carriage of Her late Majesty, conveying the 
Maids of Honour. 

Carriage of Her late Majesty, conveying Women 
of the Bedchamber to Her late Majesty. 

Carriage of Her late Majesty, conveying the 
Equerries of Her late Majesty. 

Carriage of Her late Majesty, conveying the Pages 
of Honour and Gentlemen Ushers to 
Her late Majesty 

Carriage of Her late Majesty, conveying Madame 
and Miss Beckedorff. 

A Guard of Lancers closed the Procession. 


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✓ 

276 THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 

v . T ' ' 

<( Upon arrival ak the south porch of St. George’s Chapel, 

V _ 

the Grooms and Servants, the Trumpets and Drums, and 
<c the Knight-Marshal’s Men filed off without the door. The 
“ Royal Body was removed from the Hearse, and carried by 
Ten Yeomen of the Guard, and followed by their Royal 
Highnesses the Chief Mourner and the Duke of York into 
(C the space prepared to receive them :—at the entrance the 
c<r Dean and Canons, attended by the choir, received the Royal 
<c Body ; and the Procession (which had been previously 
formed under the direction of Sir George Nayler, Knt. York 
“ Herald, executing this part of the duty on the behalf of 
Garter) being flanked by a party of the Grenadier Regiment 
of Foot Guards, every fourth man bearing a flambeau, 
tf moved down the south aisle, and up the nave, into the 
c< choir, in the following order 

Poor Knights of Windsor. 

Pages of His Royal Highness the Prince Leopold. 

Page of Her Royal Highness the Princess Sophia of Gloucester. 

Pages of His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. 

Pages of their Royal Highnesses the Princess Sophia, the 
Duchess of Gloucester, and the Princess Augusta. 

Pages of His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex. 

Pages of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland. 

Pages of His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. 

Pages of His Royal Highness the Duke of York. 

Pages of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent. 

Pages of the Presence. 

Pages of the Bedchamber. 

Pages of the Back Stairs. 

Pages of His Majesty. 

Pages of Her late Majesty. 


\ 


[George 


1 


III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS/-- 21'7 

i ' , 

# r s 

Gentlemen Ushers Quarterly Waiters to His Majesty. 
Pages of Honour to His Majesty. 

Apothecaries to the King. Surgeon to the King. 

Apothecaries to Her late Majesty. Surgeons to Her late Majesty. 

* 

The Rev. the Rector of the The Rev. the Rector of the 

Parish of Kevv. Parish of Windsor. 

Grooms of the Privy Chamber to His Majesty. 

t t 

Serjeant Surgeons to the King. 

/ 

Physicians to the Prince Regent. 

Physicians to His Majesty. 

Physicians to Her late Majesty. 

Deputy Clerks of the Closet to the Prince Regent. 

Household Chaplain to His Majesty’s Windsor Establishment. 

Equerries to the Prince Leopold. 

\ 

Equerries to the Duke of Gloucester. 

Equerries to the Duke of Cambridge. 

Equerries to the Duke of Sussex. 

Equerries to the Duke of Cumberland. 

Equerries to the Duke of Kent. 

, Equerry to the Duke of York. 

* ** , ✓ 

Equerries to the Prince Regent. 

Clerk Marshal and First Equerry to the Prince Regent, 
Quarter Master General. Adjutant General. 
Equerries to the King. 

Clerk Marshal and First Equerry. 

Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber to His Majesty, 





i 


278- 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF 


[George 


Officers of the Duchy of Cornwall, viz. 

Solicitor General. 

Auditor. Receiver General. 

Lord Warden of the Stannaries. 

A 

Grooms of the Bedchamber to His Majesty. 

Master of the Robes to His Majesty. 

Pursuivants of Arms. 

Portcullis. 

Rouge Dragon. Bluemantle. 

His Majesty’s Solicitor-Gen. His Majesty’s Attorney-Gen. 


Her late Majesty’s 
Solicitor-Gen. 


Her late Majesty’s 
Attorney-Gen. 


Comptroller of His Majesty’s Treasurer of His Majesty’s 

Household. Household. 

Heralds of Arms. 

Somerset. Richmond. 


Privy Purse and Private Secretary to the Prince Regent. 

The Right Honourable the Lord Chief Baron. 

The Right Hon. the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. 


The Right Honourable the Vice-Chancellor of England. 
The Right Hon. the Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench. 

Lords of the Prince Regent’s Bedchamber. 


Master of the Household Groom of the 
to His Majesty and Se- Stole to His 

cretary to the Groom Majesty’s 

of the Stole on the Windsor Es- 

* Windsor Establish* tablishment. 

ment. 


Vice-Chamber- 
lain to His 
Majesty’s 
Windsor Es¬ 
tablishment. 


III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 279 

The Right Reverend The Right Reverend The Right Reverend 
the Lord Bishop the Lord Bishop the Lord Bishop 
of Exeter, of London. of Salisbury, 

Clerk of the Closet Chancellor of the 

to the King. Order of the Garter. 

Heralds of Arms. 


Lancaster. Chester. 

The Minister of State of Hanover. 


The Deputy Earl Marshal. 


The Deputy Lord Great 
Chamberlain. 


His Majesty's Ministers, viz. 


The Rt. Hon.Charles Bathurst. The Rt. Hon. W. W. Pole. 
The Rt. Hon. George Canning. The Rt. Hon. N. Vansittart. 
Lord Viscount Melville. The Earl Bathurst, K.G. 

Earl of Westmoreland, K.G. The Earl of Harrowby. 

His Grace the Archbishop of York. 

His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Windsor Herald, acting for Norroy King of Arras. 


Captain of the Yeomen of tbe Captain of the Band, of 

Guard. ✓ Gentlemen Pensioners.** 

The Sub-Dean, Choristers, & Chapel Boys of the Chapels Royal. 

The Choir of Windsor. 

Prebendaries of Windsor. 

Dean of Windsor. 


Supporter, pThe Crown of Her late'J 
Second Gentle- ] Majesty, borne, on a * 


man Usher 
Daily Waiter to 
Her late 
Majesty. 


I 


black velvet cushion, 
by Norroy, acting for 
Ciarencieux, King of 
Arms. . 


I 


Supporter*, 
First Gentle¬ 
man Usher 
Daily Waiter to 
Her late 
Majesty. 


* Right Honourable the Earl of Courtomjpr 





/ 


§80 


THE HONOURABLE BAND OF [ George 


The Lord Steward of Ilis Majesty’s Household. 

“] Gentleman 
Garter Principal King of 
-<j Arms, bearing his S- 


First Gentle¬ 
man Usher, 
Daily Waiter to 
His Majesty. 


Sceptre. 


Usher of the 
Black Rod, 


Secretary to the f The Lor(1 Chamberlain of 

Lotd N j| a j es ty’g Household. 
Chamberlain. V 


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Dukes, 


The ROYAL BODY, 
covered with a fine 
Hollaud Sheet and 
a Black Velvet Pall, 
adorned with Ten 
Escutcheons, car¬ 
ried bv Ten Yeomen 

9 

of the Guard, under 
a Canopy of Black 
Velvet. 


bearing the Rod 
reversed. 

The Vice- 
Chamberlain. 


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The Sword of State, carried 
by the Earl of Liverpool, K. G. 


Supporter, 
The Marquess 
of 

Buckingham. 


The Chief Mourner, 
THE PRINCE REGENT, 
in a long Black Cloak, with 
the Star of the Order of the 
Garter embroidered thereon, 
and wearing the Collars of 
the Garter, the Bath, and 
of the Royal Hanoverian 
Guelphic Order, and the In¬ 
signia of the Order of the 
Golden Fleeee. 


Supporter, 
The Marquess 
of 

Winchester. 







-GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. 


281 


HI] 

Train Bearers: 

The Marquess of Bath. The Marquess of Salisbury, K.G. 

The Marquess of Headfort, The Marquess Cornwallis. 

K. St. P. The Marquess Camden. 


Assistants to the 

Lord Viscount Bulkeley. 

The Right Hon. Lord Boston. 

The Right Hon. Lord Amherst. 

The Right Hon. Lord Arden. 

The Right Hon. Lord Graves. 

The Right Hon. Lord Langford. 

The Right Hon. Lord Beresford, 
G.C.B. - 

His Royal Highness the Duke 
of Sussex, in a long black 
cloak, with the Star of the 
Order of the Garter em¬ 
broidered thereon, and 
wearing the Collar of the 
Garter, His train borne by 
Major-General Sir George 
Townshend Walker, G.C.B. 
Groom of the Bedchamber, 
and the Honourable Wash¬ 
ington Shirley, Equerry to 
His Roval Highness. 

0 o 

The Master of the Horse to 
Her late Majesty. 

Secretary and Comptroller to 
Her late Majesty. 


Chief Mourner: 

The Earl Delawarr. 

Lord Viscount Lake. 

The Right Hon. Lord Rivers* 

The Right Hon.Lord Grenville. 

The Rt. Hon. Lord St. Helens; 

The Right Hon. Lord Henley, 
G.C.B. 

The Rt. Hon. Lord Hill, G.C.B. 

\ 

His Royal Highness the Duke 
of York, in a long black 
cloak, with the Star of the 

I 

Order of the Garter em¬ 
broidered thereon, and 
wearing the Collars of the 
Garter, Bath, and of the. 
Royal Hanoverian Guelphic 
Order, His train borne by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Delan- 
cey Barclay and Lieutenant- 
Colonel Cooke, Aides-de- 
CamptoHisRoyal Highness. 

The Lord Chamberlain to Her 
late Majesty. 

l 

Private Secretary & Treasurer 
to Her lute Majesty. 




/ 282 the honourable band of [ George 

. 

Ladies of the Bedchamber to Her late Majesty. 

Women of the Bedchamber to Her late Majesty. 

Maids of Honour. 

Ladies of the Bedchamber to the Princesses. 

/ % 9 

Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber to Her late Majesty. 

Equerries to Her late Majesty. 

Keepers of the Robes to Her late Majesty, 

* 

Women Attendants of Her late Majesty. 

Third Gentleman Usher Daily Waiter to Her late Majesty* 
Pages of Honour to Her late Majesty. 

Gentlemen Ushers Quarterly Waiters to Her late Majesty. 

Ten Gentlemen Pensioners, with their Axes reversed. 

Forty Yeomen of the Guard, with their Partizans reversed, 

J " 

i6 Upon entering thcChoir, the Royal Body was placed on 
“ a Platform, and the Crown and Cushion laid on the Coffin. 

** The Cliief Mourner sat on a chair at the head of the 
“ Corpse, the Supporters standing on each side. 

tf The Princes of the Blood Royal proceeded to their 
f<r respective Stalls. 

tc The Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty took his place at 
“ the feet of the Corpse, aed the Supporters of the Pall their 
et places near the Royal Body. 

“ During the service the Knights of the Garter present 
<< occupied their respective Stalls : the Judges, Ministers of 
** State, Nobility, and Great Officers of the Household, were 
“ placed in the vacant and intermediate Stalls: the Ladies 
“ Attendants in the seat below the Stalls, on the north side, 
« nearest the Altar : the Officers of the Duchy of Cornwall, 


V 




III.] GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.. 283 

<c the Grooms of the Bedchamber, Law Officers, &c. in the 
seat below t-lie Stalls, on the south side, nearest the Altar : 
<( the Physicians, Equerries, &c. in the front seats on either 
<e side : the Gentlemen Ushers, Pages, &c. were arranged on 
<c each side, below the Altar. 

t( The part of the Service before the Interment, and the 
Anthem being performed, the Royal Body was deposited in 
“ the Vault; and tfye Office of Burial being concluded, after 
<e a short pause. Sir Isaac Heard, Knight, Garter, Principal 
** King of Arms, proclaimed the styles of Her late Majesty, 
4< as follows : 

ee Thus it hath pleased Almighty God to take out of this 
te transitory life, unto His Divine Mercy, the late 
tc Most High, Most Mighty, and Most Excellent 
iC Princess CHARLOTTE, by the Grace of God, 
“ QUEEN CONSORT of The Most High, Most 
C( Mighty, and Most Excellent Monarch, GEORGE 
i( THE THIRD, by the Grace of God, of the United 
<( Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, 
e< Defender of the Faith, King of Hanover, and Duke 
“ of Brunswick and Lunenburgh; whom God bless 
* e and preserve with long life, health, and honour, 
C( and all worldly happiness. 

<r After which His Royal Highness- the Chief Mourner, 
€e their Royal Highnesses the Princes of the Blood Royal, the 
(< Great Officers, Nobility, and others, who had composed 
e< the procession, retired ; having witnessed that every part 
t( of this most mournful and afflicting ceremony had been 
et conducted with great regularity, decorum, and solemnity.'’ 

[London Gq-zette,'] 


THE END, 






Of the Publishers of this Work may be had , price 9s* 

Regales Ceeremoniee; 

OK 

THE CEREMONIES 

OBSERVED AT THE 

Interment of Queen Caroline 

AND 

KING GEORGE II. 

TOGETHER WITH 

THE ACCOUNT OF THE PROCESSIONS 

* - t 

AT' 

' / - • #. 

The Accession, Marriage, & Coronation 

OF 

KING GEORGE III. and QUEEN CHARLOTTE; 

• \ ( 

AND 

€&c General atmtessca! 

< 

PRESENTED THEREON. 


In the Press and shortly may be had of the same 

Publishers, 

An Explanatory Account 

OF THE 

NATURE AND BUSINESS 

OF THE SEVERAL 

Offices, Posts, Employments, and Places 

of Trust, 

RECOGNISED BY THE 

Constitution of CnglanO. 

• \ / 

Alphabetically Arranged. 

To be printed uniform with this Volume, in 8vo, price 10s: 6(1, 

boards. 


Lfc H’19 















} 
















